“Destroyed a town?” the Riverman gawked, “Planning to gas? This town wasn’t Koudestroom, was it?”

“It was. Chemical weapons are not prohibited in Strossvald,” you warned him, “As thanks for telling me about this plot…I wanted to give you an opportunity to save some people.”

“Do your people have no morals at all!?” the Riverman exploded, “How could you do that?”

“I didn’t. I tried to negotiate for surrender myself. It was somebody further up who decided otherwise.” You tapped on your wrist, “You don’t have much time. I know you sorts can’t be killed, so I’m not concerned for your health, but anybody left doesn’t have the same power.”

“I know that,” the Riverman said harshly as he rose, “I will remember this.”

With that, he was whisked away on an invisible wind.

“Not even a thanks?” you wonder to yourself before trudging back up. If he’d been a little more patient, you might have been able to offer spare chemical equipment. Apparently he had enough confidence in his bizarre magics to not consider it.

You walked over to 5th Platoon’s command tank and rapped on its front. “Bridge is clear.” You announced simply.

“What was it?” 5th Platoon’s lieutenant asked, slightly taken aback by your blasé tone.

“Just a bridge troll.” You said, “It went away. We can go across now.”

“Company just said to secure the bridge, though,” 5th platoon’s lead replied uncomfortably, “Do we need to go much further?”

>I need to pick up something I left on the beach. Come with me and help me get it, and we’ll push our lines too.
>You stay here. I’m going to have a look around the perimeter and see if I can catch anybody off guard with my platoon.
>I’ll leave my platoon here with you and my 2ic. I’m going to take a walk and see if anything’s up around here.
>Other

Any decision will need to be cleared with company command, but you’re likely to be allowed whatever unless it’s something really out there.

>Previous thread archive links @ https://pastebin.com/UagT0hnh
>Announcements and bullshit @ scheissfunker on twitter

>>1582500
>>I need to pick up something I left on the beach. You stay here, but if anything shows up I would appreciate the assistance.

>>1582500
>I need to pick up something I left on the beach. Come with me and help me get it, and we’ll push our lines too.

>>1582500
>I need to pick up something I left on the beach. Come with me and help me get it, and we’ll push our lines too.

“I need to pick up something I left on the beach,” you said the 5th Platoon, “Come with me and help me get it, and we’ll push our lines too.”

“You sure that’ll be cool with company?” the 5th platoon lieutenant asked uncertainly. He must have been just as new as you were.

“We’ll all get ready to move,” you assured him, “I’m sure he’ll clear it, and we’ll be ready.”

With that, you jogged back to your tank.

Just as you expected, when you called the captain, he dismissively cleared your operations.

“Yes, yes,” the voice of captain Schwarzholdt crackled, “Just…say if you find anything substantial.” He sounded worn out already, “On top of this mess with the town, we haven’t met a prepared enemy line yet. Something’s wrong. If they wanted to contain our advance, they would have hit us right at the bridge…”

You didn’t indulge in developing his theories. The captain already had a lot on his mind, it seemed. You simply relayed it to 5th Platoon to make sure they got it too, and went on your way.

There was a notable lack of enemy lines, even as you went past the bridge and towards the area you had operated in early this morning. Small trails of black smoke rose from the smoldering remains of the gun bunkers that had been blown up by Bat Company. You expected some sort of tank hunting teams, more armored contact, but instead all you saw whenever you looked around was the occasional scout, or isolated fireteam, wandering lost among the craters.

You knew, though, that if you went far enough east you’d run into something. After all, there was still apparently fighting over the eastern bridge; you could hear it.

Soon enough, you found your missing vehicle, with 5th platoon watching to the south as your own platoon closed onto it.
You looked at the tank you left behind, and sighed with relief. It appeared to be unmolested, just as the Riverman said.

You would have to do the dirty work of disarming your own trap, though; something that might not even be possible to do cleanly; you had rigged it well. Worst come to worst, though, you could at least just dash in and toss the scuttling charge into the river before it blew up the tank with you inside of it. It was on the twenty second timer; if you messed up defusing it, you wouldn’t have much time to act.

>Attempt to disarm your booby trap and preserve the scuttling charge
>Don’t mess around with explosive traps; just rip open the hatch and throw the thing into the river.
>Other

>>1582840
>Recruit two people to hold up the hatch and another to hold a flashlight for us
>Attempt to disarm your booby trap and preserve the scuttling charge

>>1582840
>>Attempt to disarm your booby trap and preserve the scuttling charge

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>1582891
>>1583044

Simple check to see how it goes.

It shouldn't be difficult since it's your trap in the first place.

Everything is roll under

>>1582840
>Attempt to disarm your booby trap and preserve the scuttling charge

You get your crew out to help you with the ordeal of retrieving your tank and making it safe to use again.

You organize your two stockier crew members, Malachi and Jorgen, into a team to carefully lift the hatch, and hold it open. The way you’d set it up, the bomb would only be armed if the commander’s hatch was lifted all the way up and opened, as to climb inside of it. Every other entry had been locked tight, as to ensure the trap would work.

If they held it open, but not all the way as to set off the charge, it would be simple work to cut the twine cord with a knife and render the bomb harmless.
In order to see inside the tank, you had your gunner, Stein, hold an electric torch.

“Easy, easy,” you coaxed your loader and driver as they slowly creaked open the commander’s hatch. It was a godsend that they could both understand you, even if their speaking of New Nauk ranged from barely comprehendible to outright gobbledygook.

“Do you see it?” Stein asked warily as he aimed the flashlight into the dim space. It wasn’t a very large piece of twine; it wouldn’t have been obvious to anybody not looking for it.

You, however, knew exactly where it was. With a quick jab of your knife, you gently cut the twine apart, letting it fall into the tank.

“It’s done.” You said. In reply came a collective sigh of relief.

You still slipped into the tank to make sure, despite you being certain that you had successfully averted any possible disaster. A quick re-insertion of the safety pin eliminated any chance of surprise detonation as you removed the fuse once again.

The radio was, of course, irreparably destroyed, as was the intention when you had left it. Perhaps you could get it back with your other tank that was being repaired in the field and get the parts to rebuild it on short order.

“Commander,” Stein called into the tank, “the other officer’s saying he sees something looking this way. Vehicles, only two of them but far away.”

>Let’s get some people in this tank and go after them. We’ll teach the seagulls to show their faces when we’re around.
>No need to stick around and wait for their friends. Let’s get back to the bridge.
>We’ll wait and see what they do. Not like two dinky tanks are a thread to two platoons.
>Other

>>1583250
>No need to stick around and wait for their friends. Let’s get back to the bridge.

>>1583250
>We’ll wait and see what they do. Not like two dinky tanks are a thread to two platoons.

>>1583250
>>No need to stick around and wait for their friends. Let’s get back to the bridge.

For now we can just throw someone in the driver seat of the recovered tank and have it follow us. We can arrange for its real crew to meet us back at the bridge, ideally with a replacement radio.

File: tcqscene68.png (194 KB, 1000x615)

194 KB PNG

“We won’t stick around long enough to find out what they want,” you say back up to Stein, shoving the scuttling charge back into its storage box, “Get…get some guy, whoever, to drive this thing. We’re going to go back and hold the bridge until command wants us to do something else.”

“Got it, commander,” Stein saluted before jumping off.

You heaved yourself up and out of the m/32, making your way to your own tank and rousing everybody on the radio.

You also called Company for a replacement radio.

“A replacement radio?” the operator you spoke to, not the captain asked. “How do you break a radio this early?”

“I didn’t break it, I just found a tank with no radio. The darndest thing.”

“…Alright,” the operator sighed, “I’ll see what I can get supply to dig up.”

You looked through your binoculars at the faraway enemy; you were definitely each well out of one another’s effective range. Both of the vehicles had the sigil of the Blood Sun upon them; one was a familiar T-8, the other…was some sort of bastard T-8 conversion. Such things weren’t uncommon in Sosaldt, you’d heard; with a wealth of mad ideas and a lack of standards, near any idea could be found in physical form over in the badlands banditry’s arsenals, good or bad.

Well, you could fight them later. You had to reconstitute your force, and you hadn’t received orders to push beyond the bridge until the battle line caught up anyways.

When you were close to the bridge again, Hans called out to you over the crew comms.

“Boss,” he said, confused, “There’s something sounding over open broadcasts, company says. Say they want us to hear it.”

Over open radio? “Patch me in.” you said, curious.

Hans slowly tuned you in, taking a minute to find the exact frequency. You heard snippets of some swarthy, raspy voiced man talking about something.

Finally, Hans locked onto it.

“Ra da da tum,” the large voice sang tonelessly, “Everybody listening now? Important announcement from 102.8, your choice for the best news in the southern cities…”

“What the hell is this idiot talking about?” Hans muttered, as you listened closer, equally perplexed.

“Alright, imperial wannabes,” the man shouted over the radio suddenly, “Listen up, because I’m only saying this once. I’m Selgess the Skull, the big boss of the Blood Suns here, and you are currently squatting your asses in MY city.”

You and Stein looked at each other with even worse confusion than earlier.

“So here’s what the deal is.” He went on, “I have two hundred…sixty…oh, and one, hostages, some from your city, some from all over the place. Your ‘countrymen,’ I’d say, except they’re all women and children. Making this real god damn clear, if you don’t pack your shit and leave the city in…five hours, I’m slaughtering them all like cattle, then I’m going to come back here and kill you all for wasting my time."

The voice broke up its speech with a single stoney, sardonic bark of laughter. "Don’t think you can go rescue them, either; they’re nice and far away, back home in Sosaldt, with their little white throats waiting for the blade if you fuck around. For those of you listening in with little brains, I’ll make myself clear. You will get the fuck out of that city as fast as you can or everybody dies. If you don’t think I can do it, just have a look at my Red Tide. Some of your bunch might’ve gotten the seagull’s big guns, but you can’t beat this big gun. Just try it, I’ll cook what’s left of you into a stew and fucking drink you!”

The broadcast seemed to end there, with static.

“Boss?” Hans asked, “This doesn’t sound good.”

“Put me in with company,” you ordered. Once he had done so, you addressed the Captain. “Captain Schwartzholdt?”

“I know,” he shot back, “Orders coming down from high command. All units are to pull back to the city as soon as possible.”

>We aren’t seriously pulling back because some eastern ass clown told us to, are we? We can go and take them.
>We’re on our way. As soon as we get our vehicles fixed, unless we can get the wrecker.
>With permission, sir, I’d like to request a staff car. I need to check on something in the city myself.
>Other

>>1583590
>With permission, sir, I’d like to request a staff car. I need to check on something in the city myself.
They couldn't have had time to transport Maddy to Sosaldt, right? Right?

>>1583620
Sosaldt's way too far away (a straight shot to the closest border's about 400km away from the present location) for them to plausibly do that in such a short time: unless they flew, which is unlikely.

Bandits are also not entirely beholden to the truth, it should be said.

>>1583590
>With permission, sir, I’d like to request a staff car. I need to check on something in the city

>>1583590
>>We’re on our way. As soon as we get our vehicles fixed, unless we can get the wrecker.

>>1583590
>We’re on our way. As soon as we get our vehicles fixed, unless we can get the wrecker.

We need to go back and talk with Hilda, if the worst has come to pass hopefully she or her brother can track Maddy down.

And if the bandit is lying, the rest of them.

“We’re on our way,” you said quickly, “As soon as we get our vehicles fixed, unless we can have the company wrecker lent to us. Also, with permission sir,” you had a bad feeling, “I’d like to request a staff car. I need to check on something in the city myself. I’ll leave my platoon under Von Metzeler.”

“Permission granted,” came the response, “Both the wrecker and the car are heading to the location of your platoon’s damaged vehicle.”

“Thanks. Out.”

“This is bullshit,” Hans complained as you arrived at the rendezvous point, “We charged across that bridge, killed a bunch of people, some of us got whacked in the process, and now we go right back across the bridge and leave? What the hell was the point?”

“Bast geht yoosed touit,” Jorgen said mildly, “Just happens.”

“Doesn’t it piss you off?” Hans asked, demanding elaboration.

“Yoosed tuu,” Jorgen adjusted his seating position with a sigh, “Then beung paessed got tierung. Just lek anything alse.”

Malachi babbled something vaguely encouraging.

“Mal’s right,” Stein said, trying to be a bit more upbeat, “We’ll come back stronger. It won’t be any problem to take back ground we’ve taken before.”

“Fat lot of good that does right now,” Hans grumbled more. “I hope this Skull clown comes right over the river after us after we leave so we can burn him.”

Soon enough, both the wrecker and the staff car came up.

“Get the radio in the tank we just got fixed,” you tell your crew, “I’ll meet back up with you in the city.”

“Where are you going?” Stein asked.

“I have to check in with our noble friend,” you said, “I was told that she was targeted for kidnapping…and now this Selgess bastard says he has plus one. I’ve got to make sure she’s safe.”

You paused awkwardly, “I…hope you all understand.”

“Get the hell out of the tank, boss!” Hans shouted from below, “What are you waiting around here for?”

“We’ll be fine.” Stein agreed, “All we have to do is leave. It’s a piece of cake.”

“Thanks,” you said quickly before jumping out of the side hatch.

You drove quickly, and almost killed yourself on the wrecks of the Valstener tanks on the bridge, having to swerve wide and almost off the bridge in your frantic driving.

Your recklessness cooled as you sped into the city and the chance of hurting people other than yourself became a factor, but your worries only compounded each time you had to stop and wait. Sosaldtian brigands, brutish, violent, practically subhuman, and there was a chance that you had let your fiancée fall into their hands.

Was it your fault? On some level, it had to be. Who was responsible for Maddalyn’s wellbeing if not you, who brought her along in the first place?

“Move, ass hole!” came a shout and a honk from behind as you failed to realize that the signals had turned.

The trip to the administrative core was a blur; angry shouts became but mere background noise as you stumbled out of the car, tripping over the edge of the footpath as you headed for the entrance to the place.
You crashed through the door and the receptionist stared at you, wide eyed.

“Are you all right, sir...milord?”

“Von Blum,” you breathed, “Ahem. Maddalyn Von Blum. Did she…leave this place?”

The receptionist looked hopeless, so you gave him a hint. “Small, red haired. Looks…youthful.”

“Oh, her. Yes.” The receptionist adjusted his spectacles, “She left after receiving a message. We received a telegram addressed for her, stating that her fiancé was injured in battle. She left in quite a state after that.”

“Bull shit,” you cursed, “Bull shit, I haven’t a scratch on my damn body…” you contained yourself, “Where was she going? The aid camps?”

“O-of course…”

You whirled about without answering, or even bothering to hear the man stammer out whatever he had to say next. You didn’t have the time.

File: tcqscene69.png (269 KB, 600x700)

269 KB PNG

As you were jumping into the car to get going again, a familiar voice croaked from nearby. “There you are. Didn’t expect to find you for a while, guess I’m not due for too much bad luck yet.”

Hilda, the scarred shootist you had met from your initial time in Salzbrucke, stumbled towards you from down the road’s footpath. She was clutching a bloody rag to her side, and was pockmarked with spots of blood.

“What happened to you!?” you exclaimed, alarmed.

“I’ve had worse.” Hilda said in her typical toneless manner, which only made her statement seem to lack truth, “Some dicks blasted me with fowl shot from a sawn off. Not like I don’t have enough scars, right.”

“What happened?” you repeated, “You…need to get to a doctor.”

“I’m fine.” Hilda insisted, although the way her teeth gritted as she said so said otherwise, “I told you. I’ve had worse. I didn’t come here for pretty boys to feel sorry for me. I came here to tell you I failed.”

>You failed? What do you mean?
>Shut it and lie down while I get the first aid kit. I don’t care how much worse you’ve had it.
>What’s done is done. I don’t care about that right now. Just tell me what happened so I can do something about it.
>Other

>>1585323
>>What’s done is done. I don’t care about that right now. Just tell me what happened so I can do something about it.

>What’s done is done. I don’t care about that right now. Just tell me what happened so I can do something about it.

>>1585323
>>What’s done is done. I don’t care about that right now. Just tell me what happened so I can do something about it.

“What’s done is done,” you sighed, unable to take your eye off of the mess of clotted blood that Hilda held against her, “I don’t care about failures or mistakes or whatever right now. Just tell me what happened so I can do…something.”

“The girl came out. I told her to go back inside.” Hilda began, “She didn’t, and I let her go. First mistake. I figure that if I tail her, I can stop anything from happening no matter what she does or where she goes. Then she gets dragged away by a couple of big creeps. I foll…I follow-“

Hilda’s eyes went wide, and she fell to her knees and vomited all over the pavement.

“You’re not fine.” You stated flatly.

“I am…” Hilda got back up, wiping her mouth. “I’m fine. I followed them, until they noticed me. One pulls their shotgun on me, but I’m a quicker shot. The other tries, he gets a shot for his trouble too. The first one got his hands back on his gun and scrubbed me with shot. I couldn’t follow them after that. It hurt too much. They got away, and I patched myself up. Complete failure. Failed at the only task I was given.” She looked at you darkly, “I don’t know where they went, but if I did, I don’t care that I look like a train wreck. I always look like a train wreck. Only way to make things better is to fix what I fucked up.”

>I appreciate the bravado. Come with me, and we’ll see what we can do.
>You don’t look like a train wreck. You look like a walking corpse. You’re going to a doctor and that’s that.
>You know, if you didn’t have the weird thing about not killing people, you wouldn’t have gotten shot.
>Other

>>1585683
>>You don’t look like a train wreck. You look like a walking corpse. You’re going to a doctor and that’s that.

>>1585683
>>You don’t look like a train wreck. You look like a walking corpse. You’re going to a doctor and that’s that.

>>1585683
>You don’t look like a train wreck. You look like a walking corpse. You’re going to a doctor and that’s that.

"Don't wallow in self pity, focus on recovery so when the next chance appears you'll be ready."

>>1585683
>You don’t look like a train wreck. You look like a walking corpse. You’re going to a doctor and that’s that.

>>1585683
>You don’t look like a train wreck. You look like a walking corpse. You’re going to a doctor and that’s that.
>You know, if you didn’t have the weird thing about not killing people, you wouldn’t have gotten shot.
>Tell me where you've seen them last. Did they have a car? Where did you wound them

>>1585683
By the way, I think the receptionist inside can call a doctor for her.

“You don’t look like a train wreck,” you admonished Hilda, “You look like a walking corpse.”

“That’s the nicest thing anybody’s said to me in months.” Hilda said in a tone so dry it would have drunk all the water in the sea.

“You’ve been shot with a shotgun!” you threw your hands up in the air in exasperation, “You’re going to a doctor and that’s that.”

“Thanks, daddy.” Hilda assumed the attitude of a brick wall.

“You know, if you didn’t have a weird thing about not killing people, you wouldn’t have gotten shot.” You rubbed your head. Normally you wouldn’t have let that one out, but Hilda’s obstinateness on top of everything else was getting frustrating.

The edge of Hilda’s mouth curved, and her statuesque expressions softened somewhat.

“I…It’s not like I didn’t try,” she insisted suddenly, “I thought that I could do it and avoid getting anybody but myself hurt too badly, but then it wasn’t just my life or theirs anymore. There was somebody else’s, and when I realized I would have to line up to kill somebody…I hesitated. Not once, but twice.” Hilda looked down and away from you, “If only the people here knew that their New Moon Sniper was such a fuckup[.”

“Look, I’m sorry,” you tried to backpedal, “I didn’t mean it that way. Don’t wallow in self-pity, focus on recovery so when the next chance appears you’ll be ready.”

“Nobody’s got time for that.” Hilda snapped.

“What I said is final,” you said firmly, “If you want to help, you can tell me what you know instead of puking all over the street trying to keep yourself upright.”

“Fine…” Hilda let herself lean on the car, “Fine. What do you want to know.”

“Where did you see these people last? Did they have a car? Where did you wound them?” questions came spilling from your mouth like your brain had sprung a leak.

“Between here and where the aid camp is supposed to be, I suppose.” Hilda pointed to the old section of the city, “Right on the edge of where it’s supposed to be haunted and where ghosts kidnap you, or whatever. Somehow I think it was never ghosts all along. No, they didn’t have a car, from what I saw.”

“But you did shoot them.”

“I might be a fuck up, but I hit them well enough.” It was impossible to tell if Hilda had regained any confidence; she had gone back to her normal stony demeanor. “One of them was bleeding rather badly on their way out. You could try and find that trail.”

That gave you a much needed injection of hope.

“That’s great, really.” You glowed, “That’s something to go on. I’ll go look for that, while you…go inside that place there, and bleed on the floor enough. They’ll be able to call somebody to help you.”

“How gentlemanly of you.” Hilda stared through you.

“Look, I-“

“Wait,” a new voice said, “Don’t go quite yet.” It was a nasally voice with a rumbling pitch, but not too low; like motorcycle tires that smoked ten packs a day.

“Von Tracht,” a man in a black suit and hat with a pointed short beard and moustache, and sallow eyes addressed you, the source of the voice. “I heard you were looking for a ferryman.”

“Was I?” you said back sarcastically, “I wasn’t aware.”

“Come with me,” he said, grinning and beckoning, “You’ll have all the answers you want, just not here. Not til we know what your take is.” The way he spoke was odd, as if he had to draw out the last sound of every sentence.

>All the answers I want? I’m not sure I believe you, but I’m hungry enough for them to follow you anyways. Lead the way.
>I’ll make time for your sort later. I have something more important to deal with.
>Sorry, but I have a hot date at the aid camp, and the only people allowed in my car right now are women. You’ll have to come back later.
>Other

Woke up too early. Cutting here for now, will start again in seven hours or so @ 3PM EST

>>1586642
>Sorry, kinda have to save a girl from a bunch of armed bandits right now. Wanna help?

>>1586642
We could've at least bring Hilda inside and ask for help, by the way. telling her to bleed on the floor was uncalled for.

>>1586647
I don't think Tracht gentlemanly demeanour is holding up right now. He is understandably annoyed that her reluctance to go for a kill shot led to this and probably why his response is rather, crude.

>>1586642
I'm not looking for answers, I'm looking for someone. I'll make time for your sort later unless you can tell me now where they are. this isn't that spook from Intel, right? If it is then I want to revise what I said to: "You know damn well what I'm looking for." And then to follow him.

Worse come to worse, I'm all for giving the demiphantom to poltergiest if he can get us to Maddy, we do after all have a way to call him.

>>1586653
>this isn't that spook from Intel, right?

It's a different guy, but you can be reasonably certain that he's connected in some way.

>>1586656
Well I'm not entirely convinced they wont use Maddalyn as some sort of poster girl to instigate a larger war with Sosaldt. I don't think the kidnappers will be hiding in the Aid camp, probably have a way out through the old network of tunnels under the city, and Intel.probably has that mapped out. So follow him.

"You know damn well what my take is. Now tell me where she is."

Worse come to worse, we still have that deal with the devil we can call on.

>>1586659
Supporting this.

>>1586659
Seconded

Even before the man had said the code phrase for entering the operation that happened this morning, you could smell the slimy ichor of a man of the Intelligence Office. You’d seen a few, but you’d started to notice traits that they all seemed to share. The way they walked, the way they talked, it always seemed just a tad off, once you knew what to look for.

“You know damn well what my take is.” You snapped at the spook, “Now tell me where she is.”

The suited man smiled openly, revealing a bevy of crooked teeth. “Not yet. You come with me, and we’ll talk.”

With that, he turned around and started walking. Your only real option at this point was to follow.

The odd man walked hunched over, taking deliberate steps. It turned out that you didn’t have to go far; he led you to a shoddy brick building around the block, opening the door and pointing you in with an open hand and a half bow.

The place seemed to be some sort of gambling den in a past life, before the Intelligence Office spooks had commandeered it. Stray playing cards still littered the floor in places, and a dim yellow lightbulb dangled from a chain, with an uneven shade over it.

At the thin table before you was a seated man, flanked by men in black suits like your escort, only with faces covered by bandannas and tinted glasses.

You recognized the seated man before you, even though he was dressed smartly in a suit and fedora, instead of the dark overcoat from underground.

“Von Tracht.” The Archduke’s spook grinned crookedly at you, “Forgive the current accommodations. This is one of many operations, that we have been forced to make up as we go along. Rather messy. This new character has not made our work easy, but it must be done nonetheless. I see that you have avoided harm, and have held high the flag of victory for the Archduke. Not bad for your first day of war.”

“My first day of war turned out to be the most unusual day of war I’ve heard of,” you said hotly in reply, “What was that nonsense with the town? Flattening it with a railway gun, then drowning it in chemical weapons? Are you mad?”

The shadow’s expression remained one of smug omniscience. “Perhaps one day, with enough dedicated service, you shall see how many troubles that act solved at once, and how completely sane it was.”

“So it was the Intelligence Office’s doing?” you rationalized.

“What a clever boy. You’ll go far, you will. Hah.” The spook let out a harsh laugh like he was forcing out a lung from his mouth. “As I was saying, though. On your dedicated service. As luck would have it, you are needed once more. Presumably, you heard the overtures of the lovely fellow across the river.”

“Selgess the Skull.” You say with contempt.

“So you know of him, good. That saves me some explanations.”

“I suppose your mission for me is to go and kill him.”

“How perceptive of you.” The Shade put his fingers together, “Do you care about the complex politics about why you can do that and actually expect an ideal sequence of events to proceed, or should we abridge the whys and carry on to the hows.”

>The only why I need is that that bastard kidnapped my wife. I don’t know how I’m going to kill him, but I suppose you have some mad plan for that.
>Educate me. I prefer to go on my suicide missions knowing as much as possible.
>I don’t really need motivation to fight him, but going out and killing him seems counterproductive. Especially since now he’s taken a hostage that I have a personal connection to. I would rather not risk that on some fool mission, to be honest.
>Other

>>1587255
>The only why I need is that that bastard kidnapped my wife. <Maddy goes "Kyaa!" somewhere and doesn't know why> I don’t know how I’m going to kill him, but I suppose you have some mad plan for that.

>>1587275
Though to be honest, while Richter does hold affection towards Maddalyn, it didn't seem to be of romantic nature to me so far.

>>1587255
>The only why I need is that that bastard kidnapped my wife. I don’t know how I’m going to kill him, but I suppose you have some mad plan for that.

>>1587288
You don't really need to rationalize it with love.
Marrying into the Von Blum family is the Tracht's chance to make their family relevant again.

If Maddy goes, so does Richter's family's shot at being big wig nobility, instead of well off people with a title. Though I don't beleive Richter is so cynical about Maddy.

>>1587255
>>The only why I need is that that bastard kidnapped my wife. I don’t know how I’m going to kill him, but I suppose you have some mad plan for that.
We must rescue our waifu from the Big Guy

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>>1587401
>That panty shot

Waifu indeed. Tanq you lewd, lewd man.

“The only why I need,” you declared, “is that that bastard kidnapped my wife. I don’t know how I’m going to kill him yet, but I suppose you have some mad plan for that.”

“Naturally,” the Shade grinned maniacally, “If only you took that attitude with every event that crossed your path. To summarize greatly, though, this bandit king, whom is quite a thorn in our side as of now, is just that; a king. Should he die, his subjects will disperse, and he will cease to bother us…for a time. Possibly a couple of weeks as they return home to decide who the new ruler of his band is. Mind you, he may be a leader in the Blood Suns, but his kingdom is his own. His actions are doubtlessly independent from his own overlords.”

“So how do I do it?” you made a "get to the point" motion.

“Selgess the Skull, as he is called…it turns out, that he has a famous romantic streak about him.” The Shade drummed his fingers together with amusement, “Normally, we would be quite lost concerning this current predicament…were it not for this personal flaw. He has shown in the past that he will quite willingly neglect strategic thinking in favor of what entertains him.”

“Sounds typical for eastern bandit scum.” You said in contemplation, “So what’s the bait?”

The Shadow stopped drumming his fingers and let his unnerving smile deepen, “Selgess loves duels. Battles between rivals; he likes it to be personal. Normally, we would be a mere faceless army before Selgess; he would have no reason to make himself vulnerable by engaging in frivolous duels, but to our great fortune…perhaps not yours, but certainly Strossvald’s as a whole, he made a great misstep when selecting whom to abduct.”

“Maddalyn Von Blum.” You said, reflexively.

“My condolences, Lieutenant. However, while I do not mean to be uncouth through being dispassionate about the effect this event must have had on you, you must realize how fantastic of an opportunity this is. I can assure you, for example, that the lady’s societal status will preclude even a hair on her head from being harmed. Even these basest of men can see a mountain of gold glittering in the horizon through the fog of their vices. Should you succeed, I can see nothing but good things resulting for you.”

“So I play as your hero is this play that belongs more on a stage than it does in a battle.” You surmised, “Presumably it won’t be as easy as calling him on the telephone and asking him to show up on the bridge with pistols.”

“Of course not,” the Shadow scoffed, “Selgess has refused negotiations. We tried to bribe him, as one would naturally attempt with mercenaries…he took the money and called us fools. He then told us to leave Salzbrucke and not to try to “weasel” out of the matter again. No, you will be going rogue.”

“Going rogue.” You repeated.

“Yes, Von Tracht, I just said that. You cannot even appear to be associated with the Archduke’s army when you set out on this mission. Not only will it lower Selgess’s suspicions, it will also appeal to a romantic narrative of the sort he is so fond of.”

“So the story is,” you counted off on your fingers, “Maddalyn is kidnapped. I become inundated with rage and a lust for revenge, and ignoring the orders of my superiors to pull out, instead go gallivanting off by myself to challenge Selgess to a duel in order to rescue my ever so dear wife, who I have known for about four days.”

“You won’t be gallivanting off by yourself, unless you are an incredible fool.” The Shade said, “That, and Selgess will hardly appear before you on his own. He goes to battle in his Red Tide; which, if you do not know, is his customized landship, one of the Blood Sun’s pride and joy. Specially optimized to be so terrifying and intimidating that most of the warlords who face it, instead choose to surrender rather than face its wrath. Your duel will be one of armor and cannon, not pistols. It will also be less a duel, and more you madly charging their lines while calling the brigand king out. He will not have his honor affronted by someone he considers a mere bug.”

“Sounds like something I’ll be able to get plenty of volunteers to desert with me for,” you muttered.

The Shade gestured to one of his henchmen, who hefted a small briefcase onto the table, carefully laying it down before opening its locks and lifting the upper half of it away.

Sparkling bars of gold, stamped with the seal of Messingplatz Lords’ Banks Conglomerate; small engravings beneath the seals indicated that these were very near pure precious metal. They were small- only a few centimeters tall and wide- but numerous. They didn’t take up much space in the case either; they were heavily insulated with velvet lining.

“I understand that some hearts may be difficult to sway into this mission with words alone, but this method is quite reliable. Any enlisted, at least, would think twice about whatever lunacy is asked of them, when presented even a single block of this. There are one hundred twenty bars of fifty grams of gold each; more than enough, we believe, for not only the loyalty of your platoon, but also as a war chest for your tasks to come afterwards.”

“My family isn’t near rich enough for me to have plausibly gotten this.” You pointed out nervously, “Let alone for me to just have gold on hand.”

“You’re palling around with a Von Metzeler,” the low, cool voice of the agent who had led you here came from behind. He had a tendency to extend the last syllables of every sentence he spoke. “It could twelve kilos and nobody would bat an eye if they knew what was good for them.”

“All right, so…maybe that works.” You breathed out and thought. “So I kill Selgess the Skull, and they go home to figure out what they want to do again, so it buys you a couple of weeks’ time to hold off on abandoning the city or stopping your offensives,” you collected all the events together, “But at the end of the day, they’ve still got the hostages. I still can’t say I follow what your plan is, exactly.”

“That is the second part of your mission,” the Shade continued to grin, practically a leering gargoyle now, “You didn’t think you could desert, kill Selgess, then come right back after having gone rogue, did you? No, you’re going to go on a journey. You’ll follow Selgess’s band back to their home, and take back the hostages. Only then, can you come back, with the Archduke willing to forgive your abandonment of your post in exchange for such…valor. It would be far too obvious in any case, if you were to come back straightaway.”

“So your plan is even more insane than I previously thought!” you spouted with exasperation, “Sosaldt isn’t just a hop and a skip over. It’s just over four hundred kilometers from here, just to the border! That’s if I go from inside Strossvald too, and like you said, I can’t just come back. How in the sweet bloody hell of hells am I supposed to go that far, through enemy lines, in an armored column, in the middle of a war!?”

“After you kill Selgess and break through…” the Shade opened a small map, and pointed to a location. “Valsten has only kept minimal troops behind the Blood Suns; it’s allowed for us to make a point of complete infiltration, for the short term. It will be like this morning; men with black armbands are your friends in disguise. They will take steps to disguise you as a member of the very organization you will be tailing. They will also have a trio of vehicles with food, fuel, and miscellaneous supplies. Our agents’ personal supplies for emergencies like this. Under such a disguise and with this aid, you should be able to make the journey from Valsten, over to East Valsten, then finally into Sosaldt. East Valsten is unfriendly with their neighbor, but they are so close to Sosaldt that they would not dare provoke the Blood Suns should they be able to help it.”

“This plan seems to have a lot of places that it could go wrong.” You leaned back in your chair and put a hand behind your head, “Is this really the best the Intelligence Office could come up with?”

“We are lucky to have so many things in our favor, Von Tracht,” the Shade stated calmly, “We do not have the time for anything other than something this heavy in risk. We think that, with a good amount of determination and luck, that this plan will work, however.”

“Give me a number.”

“Thirty percent.”

“That’s not good.” You sighed and let your arms down, “What were the chances for the operation this morning?”

“Fifty.” The Shade let his mouth crook again with a slight smile, as usual, “From forty, before your participation. That turned out well enough, did it not? Trust me when I say that your chances are much, much better than they could be, considering that without certain elements in play, this operation would not be possible at all.”

“I see.” You sigh again, worn to the bone.

“I will allow you to ask for payment in return for this,” the Shadow held up a finger quickly, “To a point. This operation must be kept secret even after it is completed; it would officially be granted upon completion of a large rescue. You may also ask for equipment to help you in this mission, whatever we can procure in the space of a few hours…again, to a point. Our cooperation with you cannot be made clear, or even be implied. Anything that could not have been stolen, you cannot have.”

>Request rewards, or modifications to the plan, if you think it good enough.
>Additionally, if needed, request equipment.

>I have no objections. Other than this plan being a mad adventure towards certain ruin, but I suppose that is my lot in life.
>Alternatively, “…You’re utterly mad. I refuse to do this mission. You’ll have to figure out something else.”

I will inform requests of how plausible they are, and if they can be met reasonably.

>>1587417
pls

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>>1587457
Can we get some crazy tank buster shells? And maybe a bazooka of some sort? If thats been invented yet. Flamethrowers?

>I have no objections. Other than this plan being a mad adventure towards certain ruin, but I suppose that is my lot in life.

Just when I thought we'd have a simple war to fight.

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>>1587521
Yeah fire would be nice, but I would want it for our infantry. Even Molotov cocktails would be useful. I figure his land ship he's so proud of has a couple of holes we can utilize.

We could easily rush up and shower it in fire, outmaneuvering it's gun. Burn every merc inside.

>>1587457
So we can take the whole platoon?
Could we get more m32's?
Or at least upgrade the tanks we have as much as possible?
We'll also need a lot of spare parts to the engines, tracks and transmissions.
And firearms. Including MGs
And grenades of various types
And paint to camouflage our tanks
And we want cash for bribes and on-the-road purchases
And this cash shouldn't come from our reward
(Also maybe we should take Hilda along, if she's in good enough condition)

>>1587452
Also, we've only known Maddy for four days?

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>>1587521
Seconding this and the Molotov idea but also asking about the possibility of getting our hands on an AT rifle. Do we know the landship's details or can we ask the spooks about that?

>>1587457
can we get the spooks to get our hell fire shell back
also time to cover our tanks in bushs

>>1587628
to add to this we will need spare parts for field repairs

>>1587457
One more thing we need is a civilian car to serve as our scout while we're traversing Valsten. And it should have a radio.

>>1587521
>bazooka

Nothing like that's been invented yet. Flamethrowers have been for a while, if you're crazy enough to want one.

>crazy tank buster shells

Well, technically, you do have something that might do something really amazing...it is an armor piercing shell, after all, just with hooplah stuck inside of it.

>>1587559
>So we can take the whole platoon?
You certainly can, as well as anybody you might think of trying to recruit to your cause. You do have 3 kilograms of gold bouillon in easy to manage bits to sling around, after all.

>Could we get more m32's?
If you can convince their owners to part with them. Like the guy said, anything that goes missing to help you will be officially said to have either been lost or stolen.

>Or at least upgrade the tanks we have as much as possible?
Upgrade?
Bolting on applique armor is frowned upon in Strossvald's military. So far as Von Tracht has been taught throughout academy, weighing down the vehicle is not ideal. This has been especially reinforced with the m/32's introduction, and its tendency to break down if overworked and/or overloaded.

>We'll also need a lot of spare parts to the engines, tracks and transmissions.
Relatively simple to get.

>And firearms. Including MGs
Tanks carry complements of reserve armaments for the crew, including carbines and a submachine gun. You could get machine guns, I suppose? Although really I'd say you'd be better off just using the numerous ones on the vehicles if you really need to go that loud.

>And grenades of various types
There's smoke, fragmentation, and concussion for assault.

>And paint to camouflage our tanks
Part of the plan is to disguise your tanks as Blood Sun assets, by painting them the right color, putting the proper sigil on them, and forgery of documents aided by papers captured in the raid. Really, you shouldn't be running into any fights after Selgess, theoretically, until after traveling into Sosaldt.

>And we want cash for bribes and on-the-road purchases
I presume you mean other than the three kilograms of solid gold. You probably shouldn't use Strossvalder coinage while on the road in a hostile nation while under a disguise.
Sosaldt does use Union Marks as official currency, but most bandits and mercenaries get by on the road with barter.

>And this cash shouldn't come from our reward
Reward? Nobody's said anything about a monetary reward. Do you want money?

>(Also maybe we should take Hilda along, if she's in good enough condition)
She certainly says she's in good enough condition. Whether she is or not is up to personal judgment.

>>1587569
It might have been five.
I know. Quest time dilation.

>>1587646
Doable.

However, everything you take with will probably be coming under fire on your initial breakthrough. Soft skinned vehicles may be better procured later. After all, after you kill Selgess, you're to go and be disguised as mercs on their way home to deal with home front matters post regicide.

>>1587628
>can we get the spooks to get our hell fire shell back

Are you sure you want them to know about that or what it is?

>>1587707
What if we ask them for some missing custom ammunition that we procured by ourselves, if we don't want to be so blatant?

>>1587699
It seems to me having Hilda along would be a benefit, but only after she's had that wound looked at, disinfected, and sewn shut properly so nothing that should be inside of her ends up outside of her.

>>1587699
>I presume you mean other than the three kilograms of solid gold
Exactly. A 50g gold bar is a lot more than most expenses we might need, and it attracts attention. At least, that's how I see it.

>Nobody's said anything about a monetary reward.
I suppose the spooks won't demand the remainder of the gold back, will they?

>She certainly says she's in good enough condition. Whether she is or not is up to personal judgment.
Not our judgement, but one of a medical professional

>Soft skinned vehicles may be better procured later
You're right. But we'd need to take a radio for it with us. Maybe an infantry model?

>Upgrade?
I was thinking more in the line of newer engines, better optics, etc.

>It might have been five.
And Maddy is already head over heels for us. She's clearly a madwoman who'd better be left in the bandits' hands!..

>>1587872
>Exactly. A 50g gold bar is a lot more than most expenses we might need, and it attracts attention. At least, that's how I see it.

That's quite true, and normally, since the gold has Strossvald bank markings, it wouldn't be too great to just throw around.

However, given the short time frame that this op is being set up in, you don't likely have big stacks of foreign bills, nor would it be accurate for the role you're playing at to have them. Sosaldt is, though, a country that exports large amounts of precious minerals. It's said that gold dust is commonly traded in Sosaldt...supposedly. The common view of Sosaldtians that reside in the "Southern Cities" are decadent, fabulously wealthy degenerate criminals turned aristocrat. If you were to modify the gold to appear more crude, it might be in character...

>I suppose the spooks won't demand the remainder of the gold back, will they?

Unless you ask for it, it's possible. They also may expect you to spend all of it; something that can be specified for next update. It IS supposed to be a mission resource, but if you were to save it, maybe it'd be a good bonus?

>Not our judgement, but one of a medical professional
You'd have to go get her checked out, but if her description of events is accurate, she was shot with fowl-shot, which wouldn't penetrate too deeply. Any wounds (besides where, perhaps, the wad went) are most likely to be ugly and painful, but not incredibly deadly.

>Maybe an infantry model?
That's relatively simple to shove into the crew space, sure.

>And Maddy is already head over heels for us. She's clearly a madwoman who'd better be left in the bandits' hands!..

First boy syndrome.

Also saving her life when she had convinced herself that it wasn't worth anything may have affected some perceptions.

>>1587946
Honestly if we want monetary reward I'm sure we can engage in a bit of war looting when we get to Sosaldt.After all what self-respectable bandit king doesn't have his own stash of loot?

>>1588058
Oh yeah one more thing. How are we supposed to extract the rest of the hostages?

>>1588065
How to extract two hundred and sixty hostages?

Good question. Better figure something out when the time comes.

:^)

>>1587872
Forgot a part.
>I was thinking more in the line of newer engines, better optics, etc.

That's not likely to happen. There aren't any better engines around; the m/32 isn't old enough to have had its bumps sanded out.

While the 32/47 optics are better than its 32/37 cousin, ripping them out of somebody else's tank would probably require some compensation in return; Imperial optics aren't cheap.

And mechanically it's only a +5 bonus over the default so you'd have to consider if it's worth all that.

>>1588086
Could we swap out the current engine for a factory new one? It could be a minor improvement to performance simply because a new engine won't be worn.

>>1588135
I will tell you definitively that the engine currently in your tanks are not near old nor used enough for that to have a discernable effect.

It will have an effect on the 28 that had its engine perforated with a 3.7cm shell, though.

>>1588086
Can we get any volunteers from the spec ops group we went over the river with? Just an opportunity to talk with them for advice since they've been to Sosaldt multi times and they've proven themselves to be sneaky bastards. Also everyone loves gold right?

>>1588168
You certainly can.

Although they aren't spec ops. They're a company of picked men from the 3rd Holtenberg Light Rifles Regiment. They're just good at what they do by virtue of having to deal with brigands all the time.

>>1588183
So they're elite light infantry or skirmishers?

>>1588183
I'm that case,

>…You’re utterly mad, but
>I have no objections. Other than this plan being a mad adventure towards certain ruin, but I suppose that is my lot in life.

We can use the gold for now for Archduchy troops but we have to make it a priority to convert them.

I support most of what other anons are saying, let's talk to our platoon, the Holtenberg Light, Hilda, her brother if he's around.

And ask the spook of he has any recommendations for personnel.

>>1588194
Specifically, they're more lightly armed as to be more mobile on foot. They carry lighter loads of equipment, and their formations lack Machine Gun Companies, with heavy machine guns and medium sized mortars. They're used to operating with little support, and have to think creatively to deal with threats like armor or fortifications.

Of course, their quick and flexible nature means they tend to deal best with foes such as Sosaldtian bandits.

>>1588217
You got it.

To make sure, when you say "make it a priority to convert them," do you mean attempting to coerce them without coin, or just seeing if they can be swayed into putting 100% into the mission regardless of compensation?

I've got to go to an event of sorts for a bit, but when I get back I'll start an update based on the discussion here. Anything else that's asked, I'll try and address on mobile.

>>1588274
Sorry, I meant more convert gold bars into Sosaldt currency or anything not Archduchy.

I'm thinking for trying to persuade them we should first appeal to their famous toughness, capacity as Hellers best unit and national pride. They're going to be the spark that reignites the war, save over 200 hostages and do what they do best: kill bandits.

And if that doesn't work we offer them all the plunder they want and gold bars.

>>1588430
The thing is if we bring infantry along that means we have to get a lot more supplies and transportation which might be hard to get on short notice.

>>1588606
True, and for the 'duel' we may not want any infantry at all. But to rescue all those hostages we're going to need more than 4-5 tanks. Especially soldiers who have experience in working quietly and overcoming unconventional problems.

If we can hire reliable mercs in Sosaldt then that works too, but I doubt we could ever fully trust any.

Okay things took longer than I figured and I'm feeling pretty out of it but I think I can still do two or three updates before I falter.

Also somehow I completely neglected this:

>>1587623
>also asking about the possibility of getting our hands on an AT rifle.

Possible, but the m/32's 13mm hull machine guns use the same ammunition as the infantry's AT rifle, so their use would likely be limited, if never restricted by ammunition stores.

>Do we know the landship's details or can we ask the spooks about that?
There's more than a few sorts of landship, although very few are in anything approaching uncommon use due to their expense and their lack of strategic mobility, despite their impressive power.

You can ask the spooks what sort of thing it is in the next update. By you can I mean you will, rather.

“A few questions,” your eyes flicked to the gold in the open briefcase, “How much of this do you want back after you are done?”

“We expect you to use it in its entirety,” the Shadow stated, “If you have any left over…consider it a bonus. As well as anything else you may…find.” He smiled in a positively devious manner.

“How magnanimous of your organization.” You said, slightly impressed. “Must be important if you’re willing to just throw that much away.”

“More than you know, my dear boy. Not only is there the factor of hostages, but also that of keeping up with the rest of the line, as well as the prestige of the local lord’s forces, and other participants…many parties interested in future…successes.”

“I get what you mean,” you stopped looking at the gold and laid your eyes back on the Shade. “Another thing. I keep hearing about this “Red Tide” machine. What is it? You said it was a landship, but what sort?”

“It is rather infamous, although information on it is vague. Three, explain it for our volunteer.” The Shadow waved out to the man on his left, the one opposite from the one who had had the briefcase.

“Imagine a big fat old metal bastard.” Three started, “Some big siege model from when the Netillians tried to break open the Ellowian forts back in 1923, except instead of breaking the line wide open, the Netillians got drawn into a pocket and had their supply lines cut. The Ellowians didn’t much like the loot they got, so they sold it to whoever wanted to buy. Sosaldt’s got quite the black market for such things; you can find whatever you’re looking for if you know who to talk to.”

Three clicked his tongue and cracked his knuckles. “Anyways, the Red Tide. It’s one of those things, except it’s been changed up enough to be barely recognizable. They doubled up the treads to make it sink less, stuck scrap and shit all over it, and then for the finishing touch they ripped the gun turret off a destroyer and stuck it on top. Twelve centimeters of big, mean firepower, not counting the ten centimeter assault gun already in the hull, and armored to take whatever you can throw at it from the front.”

“Dangerous.” You observed to yourself quietly.

“There’s a catch though,” Three held up a waggling finger, “There’s only one of ‘em. A bunch of those old landships were bought up, but that destroyer only ever had one turret taken off of it for the Blood Suns.”

That gave food for thought. “So what does that mean?” you prodded Three to continue.

“It means…” Three said slowly, “That the Red Tide shows up in a bunch of places, too quick for the big heavy piece of junk to move around to. Most people around Sosaldt are so scared shitless of the thing that they surrender when they see it coming. You putting the pieces together yet?”

“Right, right,” you said, thinking a long time about other preparations, “Alright. To move along…I need these things.”

You began to rattle off a list so long and exhaustive, the Shadow held up a hand, and for the first time since you met him, grimaced. “Now, Von Tracht, let us be reasonable. Write such things down for yourself, or remember them. I will not be sourcing such things. I will instead be giving you authority to take what you will from the armories and supply dumps.”

“That makes things much easier,” you said with confidence, rising from your seat. “So how much time do I have to do this?”

“We have four and a half hours until the deadline stated by Selgess,” the Shadow allowed his grimace to vanish, “Between two to three hours should be ideal. Some minutes even after the deadline should be adequate, so long as, for all that is holy, you are not late in challenging Selgess the Skull.”

“Got it.” You make for the door.

“Good luck, Von Tracht. Have fun stormin’ the castle.” The initial spook who had guided you here tipped his hat to you as you left.

You can tackle your preparations in any order, but perhaps it was best to get certain things done first.

Your damaged m/28 was likely in the midst of being fixed. While normally, it would warrant a complete replacement of the engine, there wasn’t quite time for that; you could call ahead and have the focus be more on temporary repair, or you could simply replace it with the replacement for the m/32 you had just recovered. It would depend on whether you wanted more tanks or better reliability.

>Take care of Hilda first; you did just sort of abandon her.
>Seek out Bat Company. Their assistance, and counsel, would be of great value.
>Procure your gear and supplies first. Those were of paramount importance.
>Other

If I missed anything or didn't adequately explain it, bring it up; I'll explain it and we can both pretend I put it in the original update post.

We can probably meet up with an Infantry contingent after our duel with Selgess. So if we really want to buy out the 3rd Holtenberg Light Rifles Regiment, we could ask them to steal several armored cars and vehicles and meet up with us on our way to East Valsten. We can get all the markings and insignia's stripped by the intel guys on the way.

Id also like a replacement m32/-47 ready for us, since were probably gonna be taking significant damage fighting that landship. So try and get Krause and Von Metzeler into this plan. I dont trust von Walen and von Igel, their loyalty is circumspect, considering we undermined one by replacing his command position and left the other one to sit out an operation.

So Krauze and Metzeler will have to 'steal' us a spare m/32-47 while also taking their own m/32's or m/28 I cant remember if the m/32 was more mechanically reliable then the von blumm model,
if it is take more of those then the m/28 since their the same speed. They can meet up with the Holtenbergs. I think we'd need atleast 1 armored car, the Holtenbergs can crew that and two trucks or halftracks to transport the Holtenbergs, and atleast one more truck to carry our spare parts, ammo and supplies. They can all meet us after the duel.

If the duel isnt relegated to single tank on tank combat, then if von Metzeler and von Krauze are willing to help us fight it out great. The Holtenbergs, if we can somehow get them close to Selgess could dump at grenades or moltovs onto his landship or try and snipe the tracks with AT Rifles. though I doubt they;d be much use, since Selgess has no reason to come out and meet us and it would most likely be us driving towards him.

>>1590075
> I cant remember if the m/32 was more mechanically reliable then the von blumm model,

It is, by virtue of being lighter. Less weight from not being uparmored, as well as having a lighter armament, helps it break down less. However, the engine itself is still intolerant of abuse.

>>1590074
>Take care of Hilda first; you did just sort of abandon her.
Then get to a radio and get von Krezue and von Metzeler here and recruit them to our cause.
Get von Metzeler to find Bat company and have them meet us in 30 minutes somewhere, while we go to the supply depot and procure what we need.

>>1590074
>Take care of Hilda first; you did just sort of abandon her.

We will need her and who knows if the fool actually had her wounds treated.

>>1590075
I agree with this anon's plan. Just want to do it after Hilda.

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>>1590068
So the Red Tide is basically a T-28 with a Destroyer Turret grafted on it and decorated with spikes and skulls all over the place acting as some sort of ablative armor.

You decided to go get Hilda; you had just sort of abandoned her there. Since you had some time to cool down and think tactically…perhaps you had been cruel to her. She had taken a load of shotshell while attempting to do something that you had tasked her with.

You sheepishly approached her; she was still where you left her.

She stared at you silently. You noticed something off when you came back. Her eyes seemed…red around the outside?

“…I’m sorry.” You brought yourself to say, “I shouldn’t have been so critical of you.”

Hilda didn’t say anything.

“Come on,” you opened the door of the car for her, while going around to your side to start it up, “Let’s get you to a doctor.”

Hilda seemed to stare off into space for a moment, before obediently entering. “Yeah…uh huh.”

You felt pressured to hurry, but with Hilda beside you, you couldn’t afford to drive suicidally. This led to a brief space of time where you were forced to wait, and Hilda spoke up.

“I’m sorry.” She said insistently.

“It’s fine.” You said back immediately.

“It’s about as fine as I said I was, right before I threw up on the ground in front of you.” Hilda’s voice seemed tired, as if her body was growing bored with maintaining her façade of emotionlessness.

You didn’t really have anything to say in response to that, because she was right.

“…Lieutenant.” She addressed you by your rank, for some reason. “I made a mistake, and other people paid for it. You’re holding back, I can tell. I don’t know if you’re doing it to be nice, or if it’s because I’m a woman. Either way, I’d rather you not. It won’t solve anything, and neither me nor you will feel any better. Reprimand me, arrange some sort of punishment. This wasn’t some friendly favor; I was under your employ, and the army’s. A mistake this bad isn’t solved with an apology.”

>For heaven’s sake, enough with the gloomy attitude. This day’s been bad enough. I order you to adopt a sunnier disposition.
>I refuse. I’m not going to indulge your self pity, and I’m not going to give in to my frustration. Don’t bring this up again.
>Fine. If you’re so keen on getting it, your punishment is…(write in)
>Other

There’ll be a radio at the aid camp to call your platoon with, so that action comes soon.

>>1590105
Perhaps less modern and impenetrably armored but...well, you'll see it when you see it.

>>1590163
>Fine. If you’re so keen on getting it, your punishment is…(write in)
>You will apologize to my fiancé after she has been rescued.

Gotta sleep, thanks for the run bossman.

>>1590163
>The purpose of a punishment is to prevent a repeating of undesirable actions. You don't look like you're keen to repeat it, so hush.
>I'd like to know though why you didn't ask for help inside. Did you intend to just bleed to death there?

>>1590163
>Fine. If you’re so keen on getting it, your punishment is…(write in)

Kiss her

>>1590454
Anon

>>1590463
Well we can do what you said too!

but then we kiss her

>>1590468
Anon, we're engaged.

>>1590472
Oh cmon, it can be a little peck and then a cocky grin. It'll be a goof.

Also...Why let a small engagement get in the way a good mistress?

>>1590475
Its to bad she isnt a good mistress compared to Signy

>>1590454
No

>>1590479
I agree signy all the Way...

>>1590483
>>1590479
Well if Signy was here I'd say she could get a smooch, she definetly is better.

But what's to stop us from kissing them both!?

>>1590479
Signy is superior, but Maddy is superiorer still.

>>1590493
Well maddy is a Nice girl but she just dosent beat signy... guess im just not that into loli looking girls

>>1590499
>Short red hair
>cute mole
>probably tight butt

Nigga what's not to love.

>>1590502
Body like a 9 year old boy?

File: 9v54cyciaj3y.jpg (62 KB, 500x376)

62 KB JPG

>>1590504
Cmon, It's more like a 12 year old boy!

>>1590507
Hmm that kinda depends on the boy

File: 78090f304826ce094e05b88ce(...).png (239 KB, 600x700)

239 KB PNG

>>1590502
Then why even consider Hilda a mistress when clearly your looking for the Maddalyn Von Blum and Mathilda Von Blum power duo

>>1590510
Mathilda is likely to turn yandere on us out of jealousy though.
You just know she's going to kill Maddy and pretend to be her until she's found out because of the fake mole falling off.

>>1590510
Yeah whats better then a girl with the body of a 9 year old boy?.. 2 girls with a body of a 9 year old boy

>>1590514
Mathilda seems like she hates Maddy though.

She might turn yandere to have a dig at her sister.

>>1590163
>>1590194
>>1590176
Support.

>>1590517
That's what I was talking about.
We're talking Higurashi-level shenanigans here.

Just got up, will likely run in four hours or so.

I have to say you people picked a weird time to talk about getting a mistress. Your wife just got kidnapped, you incorrigible rakes. I don't mind it at all, if that's really something you want to do, but it would be out of character to bring it up in story til at least a bit later. Again, if you want to, that's on you, since you're the character, but right now I don't really see Tracht as somebody who would cheat.

Why would you want to kiss Hilda anyways she's not even cute

>>1590544
Nah it was just a joke primarily. It would be WAY out of character. Perhaps if Tracht accepted Signy's advances it would make sense, but he didn't.

>>1590544
Realistically, we don't have that many options anyway. We've already refused Signy's advances, Hilda is a cold fish and Mathilda will likely poison us, so our only romantic option is clearly Emma

>>1590552
The titty-monster?

>>1590552
The titty-monster who ran off to the bandit Nations?

>>1590552
> We've already refused Signy's advances

Once.

Just saying.

>>1590560
>tfw poor ghost girl has been forgotten already

>>1590563
Yeah and i still feel bad about it... signy is best waifu

>>1590568
Oh shit thats right... but who knows how long it Will take before she gets a body

>>1590572
>needing a body
>not being satisfied with pure platonic love

>>1590574
Damn... i feel like such a scrub to keep focusing on the girls bodies instead of their red hair and ghostly charms

“The purpose of a punishment,” you said levelly, “is to prevent a repeating of undesirable actions. You don’t look like you’re keen to repeat it, so hush. If you really want to make up for it, you can apologize to Maddalyn after we get her back.”

“Hm.” Hilda grunted.

“I’d like to know why you didn’t ask for help inside, though.” You asked her, “Did you intend to just bleed to death there?”

“I’m not bleeding to death.” Hilda corrected sullenly, “I know how to bind a wound. I’ve had worse. A lot worse.”

“Worse than being shot?”

“I ran into a bear two years ago.” Hilda traced a finger along the massive scar on her face, “I almost died. If I didn’t know how to slow the bleeding, we wouldn’t be talking right now.”

You arrived at the Aid Camp soon enough. It was not yet inundated with wounded; relatively few physicians were running about, and many more were consumed with less stressful tasks. Thus, it was no great ordeal to flag down a medic and get them to look at Hilda.

“This isn’t the sort of wound I was expected,” the medic muttered, “You know there’s a clinic for civilians, right? Isn’t this a hunting accident? It would have been easier to get to.”

“She’s under mercenary contract.” You told the medic, “Besides, she was shot by infiltrators.”

“With fowl shot?” the medic wondered as he opened his kit, “Lucky they didn’t choose buck. Your mercenary would have been in a bad sort if they did.”

The medic took out a pair of shiny, sharp scissors, and looked down at Hilda as she lay on the cot. “Miss, I’m going to have to cut open your clothes.”

Hilda’s expression shifted noticeably. “Do you…have to?” Her voice had a wary intonation that wasn’t like her.

“I am an army surgeon, miss.” The medic…although perhaps it would be rude to just call him medic, now that you know his proper status, said. “It is necessary to sterilize the wounds, and to prevent any further debris from entering them. I cannot ask you to take your clothes off yourself, since that carries a risk of abrading the wounds.”

“But,” Hilda squirmed quite uncharacteristically, “There’s one in my…chest. Do you have to cut all the way?”

“Miss.” The surgeon stated clearly, “I am not trying to embarrass you. This is an important step of treatment. I will ensure that any clothing items that are destroyed are replaced as soon as possible.” With that, he began to cut away the bandages that Hilda had applied.

“Nnh…” Hilda whined in protest.

When the surgeon was quick, and had soon reached a point where you had to turn away in order to preserve Hilda’s dignity; not that you had been looking there in particular…well, perhaps a little…but Hilda had taken one bit of shot to a breast, and the Surgeon presumably wouldn’t have left his work unfinished.
Hilda remained as quiet as possible, with only the slightest signs of letting out pained syllables, to the tune of forceps removing shot, each little piece being placed in a tin with a little clanging sound.

“Milord,” the Surgeon said as he worked, “So you know, this should not be a debilitating injury. You can likely take her back out after I finish redressing these wounds, although if you wanted my professional opinion, she should also have an infusion of plasma.”

“Yes,” you said, your back turned, “Thank you.”

“Miss,” the surgeon said down to Hilda, “Should you suffer wounds like these large ones again, I recommend you see a proper doctor. These scars…were not properly sutured.”

“Couldn’t I have…just a cloth, or something?” Hilda sounded incredibly nervous.

“Miss.” The Surgeon didn’t seem to stop working, “I will be finished soon enough. I have a wife and daughter, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen a woman undressed. Nobody is trying to peep on you. Please, allow me to remove the foreign bodies from your upper torso and your arm, and we will be done.”

You left in order to get at a radio- you needed to call the most trusted members of your platoon.

Perhaps they could be more trusted, but you had known Von Metzeler through your time at the academy. Krause, significantly less, but you knew he and Metzeler were close. The other officers, while they were fellow academy graduates, you didn’t know nearly as much about. Von Metzeler had a reputation that even you knew about, while the others were largely out of your notice.

By coincidence, of course, none of the people you had run into and recruited had been the few cadets you had been on friendly terms with. Von Metzeler had actually challenged you to a duel after the last exercise, due to presumably a perceived affront on his honor.

Your relationship had only improved from there, thankfully.

You got a hold of a radio set with relatively little effort, and got connected to your company, then your platoon.

“Von Tracht.” Lieutenant Von Metzeler addressed you over the radio, “Are you well?”

“Well enough.” You said, “Listen. I need you and Krause, as well as yours and mine tanks and crews, to go and find a bunch of men calling themselves Bat Company. 3rd Holtenberg Light Rifles. Then, I need you to come to the south of the city, outside the administrative buildings.”

“Why only Krause and I?” Von Metzeler asked, “Is it a sensitive matter?”

“Quite.” You replied.

“If you do not trust your newer officers,” Von Metzeler said slowly, “Perhaps it is a sentiment unique to my own perspective, but you did aid them in their time of need, as you aided Krause and I. It is an eternal contract, for those who saved one another from peril to continue to help one another.”

>That’s nice, but I don’t have a good feel for their abilities, nor their trust in me, regardless of if I saved them. Just take yourself and Krause, and my crew.
>If you say so, then take them. I would rather not, though.
>If you vouch for them, that is good enough for me. Only if you are absolutely sure, though.
>Other

>>1590834
>If you vouch for them, that is good enough for me. Only if you are absolutely sure, though.

>>1590834
>>If you vouch for them, that is good enough for me. Only if you are absolutely sure, though.

>>1590834
>>If you vouch for them, that is good enough for me. Only if you are absolutely sure, though.

“Well, if you vouch for them, that’s good enough for me,” you said back, “Only if you are absolutely sure, though.”

“I vouch for their loyalty, not necessarily their talent.” Von Metzeler said bluntly, “The only one whose talent I would certainly vouch for, one Von Neubaum, has refused to take a position of command.”

“That won’t be that big of a problem,” you said quickly, “I’ll explain it once you come around.”

Soon enough, your platoon had arrived; each of its members in varying states of confusion. Among the enlisted, the subject of the minute was the sudden order of withdrawal. The suddenness of it, predictions of what would be done in the future, and most of all, theorizing who the hostages were.

Along with your officers, you recognized Captain Honnrieg; apparently having come as a representative of Bat Company.

You gathered up the leadership and explained the situation.

“So you all know that this Selgess the Skull character is blocking the bridge, and unless we cede both our advance, as well as this city, he takes care of the hostages he’s taken.” You started, “Our friends at the intelligence office gave me a mission. I’m going to say up front though…” you looked at each of them, “We’ll be required to desert our posts. We’ll be absent without leave, and in violation of Strossvald’s army laws. Marked as criminals, for the duration of the mission. If you’ve any aversion to that, or think your men will, then say so now. I’m not going to force you to do it.”

The briefcase of gold weighed heavily on your arm, but you weren’t going to show it quite yet. Not until you had a decent handle on how your potential allies felt.

“It’s a mission, isn’t it.” On Neubaum toned in, “So we’re not really deserting, are we.”

“Well, not technically.” The specifics were a bit of a head scratcher, you thought, as you said this. “But in the eyes of everybody who doesn’t know about this mission, we will be.”

“I’m guessing we won’t be trying to evade our own guys,” Von Neubaum said, sounding bored. “So get to the dangerous part.”

“Right.” You summarized the operation very briefly, “We’ll be ‘deserting’, then charging across the bridge, murdering this Selgess person, then following the remnants back to Sosaldt so we can break the hostages out from their base.”

“So why are we the ones doing this?” Von Neubaum pressed you, “We aren’t exactly the most intimidating armor platoon in the Archduke’s host. This sounds more like something that should be trusted to a Silver Lance.”

>Reveal your personal connection to the operation
>Make up some bull shit (write in)
>Claim ignorance
>Other

>>1590952
>>Reveal your personal connection to the operation

>>1590952
>Reveal your personal connection to the operation

>>1590952
>Reveal your personal connection to the operation

It's going to come up at some point, highlights why it has to be us and may appeal to any of the more honor bound in the group.

>>1591039
I don't think honor will matter much when we shove a gold brick into their hands.

But I do agree, they should know why it has to be us.

>>1591047
Seconding.

“Well,” you repeated the Shadow of the Archduke’s way of putting it, “Selgess, as it turns out, like his battles to have drama. He has…created some dramatic tension between us, albeit unwittingly. Normally, we wouldn’t be able to get close to him, but I’m in a position where I can call him out.”

Before anybody could ask why that was, you gave the reason. “Bandits of the Blood Sun infiltrated the city, and kidnapped Maddalyn Von Blum. She is…my fiancée.”

Among the dumbfounded reactions about hearing of the kidnapping, Captain Honnrieg let out a loud snort.

“Something funny?” you challenged Honnrieg irritably.

“No, no. Snrt.” Honnrieg couldn’t help but smile as he evaded your cold stare, “Just reminds me of something that happened a long time ago. So you want Bat Company to help with this?”

“That was what I was hoping,” you said, making ready to put the case on the ground to open it, “If you need-“

“Say no more.” Honnrieg pulled you back up, “If you need to raid Sosaldt, you’ve got Bat Company at your back.”

“Just like that?” you asked, shocked.

“Just like that.” Honnrieg put a fist into his chest, “Back in the day, that’s what we did forfun. We were on our way home, anyways. Turns out the big bosses don’t like having an unruly company mucking around with nobody to tell them what to do. So either we can go home and sit around doing garrison and waiting for the Netillians to make another dumbass move, or we go on a big bold rescue mission to save the lives of the innocent and smite a bunch of ass bandits who think they can’t be touched. You’d have the support of the regiment, let alone Bat Company.”

“I…truly appreciate that.” You said uncertainly. Was it really that easy? They did used to be under Heller Von Tracht, but…

“Besides,” Honnrieg stuck a finger in his ear and turned it, “These bandit kings always have a respectable collection of fine riches. I’m really not seeing a reason not to go.”

Naturally.

You filled them in on the finer details of the plan.

“I don’t like our chances…” Von Igel moaned afterwards, “I guess I feel better if we have the other help, though…”

“You don’t have to go,” you reminded the tank commander gently.

“Well, the Lieutenant said if we refused, we had no honor. I’d personally rather have my life but-“

Von Walen butted in. “I’ll be damned if I’ve got no honor, I told him!” he near shouted, “So he and I convinced the pube headed pussy here to rediscover his goddamn balls that he left in the Blumlands.”

“…Yes.” Von Igel said with defeat.

“And Von Neubaum?” your eyes wandered to the tired looking, lanky officer.

“I go wherever.” He said, lacking in enthusiasm. “Deserting or not, we’re still doing something for the army. If I wasn’t here, I’d be doing some other dumb thing. At least here I’ve got Von Pissed and Von Dork.”

“I better not be Von Dork.” Walen warned.

That neatly handled all your leadership. Now there was just the matter of the enlisted. Unlike your officers, not all of them had a personal connection or debt to you. Would it be too much to ask them to aid you in this operation?

>Attempt to win them by appealing to their sense of honor and duty (Write in)
>Bribe them with an ingot of gold each. (22 enlisted to bribe, including your own, equals 22 bars used in bribery, leaving 98 bars of 50 grams of gold left over in the war chest)
>Other

I've been mucking around a bit, but I should be around and more punctual the rest of the evening

>>1591324
>Bribe them with an ingot of gold each. (22 enlisted to bribe, including your own, equals 22 bars used in bribery, leaving 98 bars of 50 grams of gold left over in the war chest)

They won't say no to gold.

>>1591324
>Bribe them with an ingot of gold each. (22 enlisted to bribe, including your own, equals 22 bars used in bribery, leaving 98 bars of 50 grams of gold left over in the war chest)

A select few might agree to the plan, our tank crew maybe, but the rest won't be so eager.

A lot harder to entice the people getting the worst of it because of honor and glory to go seek some more.

“It’s good to know that you’re all so supportive, but,” you crouched down to open the briefcase, and counted out tiles of gold. Your commanders’ eyes widened as you showed them the metal. Von Igel actually lifted his glasses to squint at it.

“I’m not going to ask our enlisted crews to throw themselves into a personal conflict for the sake of honor and camaraderie. I’m going to give you each a piece of this gold for each of your crew members. Tell them what I told you, and that this is half payment for their loyalty, the other half to be given after we finish this.”

Whether that would be practical remained to be seen; hopefully you would be able to pillage the treasuries of some bandits to make up the difference.

“As exciting as this is, Von Tracht…” Captain Honnrieg stretched.

“Did you want gold as well?” you asked.

“Nah. Haven’t earned it yet. I can speak for all the 3rd for that.” Honnrieg said dismissively, “It’s more that I doubt the practicality of leading all of Bat Company out with you. From the sound of the plan, you’re trying to be subtle. I’d say we could only take a squad and a half, maybe two, and keep things on the down low. The rest could come in another way, but we ain’t crossing that bridge with everybody.”

“I’ll get to that.” You found a pencil and paper and began writing a list. “We have a few hours to get all of these things.”

>x2 Model 20 Infantry Flame Projectors
>March Loading of Tread, wheels, and parts for simple maintenance of vehicles (March loading referring to not removing spare equipment prior to combat, maximizing amount carried by the vehicle)
>Five VM Light Machine Guns, to supplement tank reserve arms
>x2 Infantry model backpack radio
>x2 13mm Infantry Anti-Tank Rifles
>x1 Panzer m/32-47
>x1 PzA-19 Armored Car
>x3 Handelwagen Two-Ton Transport Truck (Fuel vehicles are to be provided across the border, don’t worry about those)
>Crates of additional ammunition for all weapons, enough for at least three days of sustained combat for small arms and one for large weapons
>Grenade crates of smoke, fragmentation, and concussion
>Special visit to logistics to retrieve customized ammunition

Honnrieg whistled. “Quite a shopping list.”
“Where are we going to get another one of Von Blum’s m/32s?” Krause asked, “I remember them not being too willing to part with them.”
“Doesn’t matter how, just find a way to get one.” You noticed one of the Intelligence Office’s spooks from before loitering, watching you from down the road. “Ask that guy, tell him you’re with me and you need a new tank. He’ll help you.”
“He looks…untrustworthy.”
“He is.” You said, “He is. But he’ll have to do. Captain, can I trust you and your men to get the other things? I’m going to be visiting the logistics office.”
“Sure,” he said, “Although we’ll probably just steal them the old fashioned way. It’s a tradition. More importantly, we need to finalize how many men we’re taking.”

----
If I missed anything or if you want to add anything that wasn’t discussed, say so. I read back over the list and discussion a few times, but it’s entirely possible that I missed something.

Additionally,

>Go with Honnrieg’s recommendation of two squads of ten.
>Suggest another number (Write in)

I know we've been doing a lot of planning already, but this does happen to be something that demands such.

>>1591646
All seems fine, let's go with Honreig 2 squad plan.

>>1591646
>Go with Honnrieg’s recommendation of two squads of ten.

Works for me, he's the expert on such work.

The only thing I'm concerned with is any 'supernatural' element to be encountered but without Maddy I don't have any real idea how to combat that.

>>1591659
Supporting.

>>1591646
>Go with Honnrieg’s recommendation of two squads of ten.

>>1591646
>>Go with Honnrieg’s recommendation of two squads of ten.

Hey, I'll be starting later than usual today; in about an hour and a half, around 4 PM EST. It's later because I have a few more things to get ready.

“Pick two squads like you said would be good,” you told Captain Honnrieg. “Although…you outrank me, I expected you to maybe have a more…commanding tone.”

“Old oaths, boy.” Honnrieg smirked, “Older than I care to admit.” He pointed a finger at you as he started to turn and leave, “I’ll see you around.”

You picked your gold back up and made for the car you’d been loaned. It was time to pay a visit to the logistics man you’d visited yesterday.

First though, you accosted the Intelligence spook, driving up next to him.

“You,” you addressed him, “Your boss said that I could have authority to take whatever I wanted from supply and such. How do I show that?”

The spook surrepticiously passed you a seal; it carried the sign of a River Lily; the Archduke’s symbol, but slightly below it was a rope. “That should shut any mouths.” He said to you, “Don’t show it to everybody, though. The fewer people know, the better. Your gold would be a better coercer.”

“We’ll see about that.” You said haughtily before leaving him in the dust.

------

Thankfully, the same person you’d talked to before was waiting at the Logistics and Personnel offices.

“You’re back?” the clerk said, with a mixture of surprise and pleasure, “So, uh, did you find anything?”

>Yeah. (Show Intelligence office seal)
>No. I need to buy some things, though. (Put the briefcase on the desk)
>Sure, but I don’t have it yet. Can I get another favor for when I do get it? (Complete horse shit)
>Other

Ostensibly, you’ve come here for your Hellfire shell that this guy claims to have seen, and knows where it is, but this guy’s also got a couple of spare crew that he’s holding, should you want to be greedy. Write in if you want them, whether it be one, both, or possibly something more specific.

>>1593823
>Other

Show him the gold, demand the hellfire and 2 extra drivers. Give him 2 or 3 gold bars for his trouble, hopefully that will suffice.

Looks like I got to the most current thread. Thought this was going to be just tank things. Never expected the spooky here. But it makes it interesting to read.

>>1590105
Makes me think we're fighting a Char B1 knockoff.

>>1593844
I say drivers because anyone can be a loader or an aimer, but I figure driver is a more specialised role.

>>1593853
Strossvald crews are cross-trained, so everybody knows how to do everything.

Whether they're good at everything is another thing entirely.

>>1593850
Honestly I was feeling pretty bad about the lack of tanks up til now. Had to kick things back into proper hear.

>captcha asks me to select the helicopter
>shows me the front of a me262

Google please.

>>1593823
>No. I need to buy some things, though. (Put the briefcase on the desk)
We need our own mechanic or two. And the hellfire shell back, of course.
Don't give the clerk more than one bar.

>>1593850
Welcome!
Please state your preferred girl among the characters, or you can't participate!

>>1593859
Don't be, it's quite interesting to have everything there in between tank battles.

>>1593885
Ooh, hmm...

I like Maddy the best. Signy is a close second but being Signy is suffering. So far, no opinion on Hilda.

>>1593897
A patrician taste, my friend.

File: download (2).jpg (12 KB, 232x218)

12 KB JPG

>>1593897
>>1593906
>Signy is a close second

Signy smothers herself in pig shit along with your other "waifu's"

PRAISE BE TO MADDLEYN, LONG LIVE HER NAME!

>>1593823
>No. I need to buy some things, though. (Put the briefcase on the desk)

>>1593823
Show the briefcase amd the gold, ask for that shell and crew. If he doesn't budge, show the crest and state terms again.

“No,” you said, “I need to buy a few more things, though.” You lifted the heavy case up with both hands, and slammed it onto the desk.

Perhaps a bit too hard; the weight sent all the other objects on top of the wooden bar flying, rolling, and bouncing off; the clerk tried and failed to recover everything making its grand exodus towards the floor.

“Alright…” the Clerk looked at you with spite, “I’m guessing something in the case was worth introducing like that.”

“I want that special shell you told me you had,” you began, “And those two crewmen you tried selling me earlier. I also want you to scrounge up a mechanic or two from one of the maintenance companies.”

“Eehh…” the clerk picked at his fingernails, “I’m not feeling very motivated to do all of that yet.”

You said nothing, but deliberately unlocked the briefcase, clicking the numbered dials til the opening combination showed for all four locks, and opened it slightly, pulling out a single gold tile and laying it on the desk.

The clerk eased himself closely to it, sliding it off of the desk and into his hand. After inspecting it for a few seconds, he looked up at you with wonder. “…How…”

“Don’t worry about it.” You said, “I trust that I can have the items I requested in a couple of hours?”

“C’mon, man,” the clerk whined, but keeping it to a whisper, “I’m just some guy up front, I’d have to be calling in all sorts of-“

You sighed, and laid another fifty gram tile on the desk, like a heavy card.

“…I mean, look, it’s hard to-“

You retrieved another bar, and laid it on top of the second, before pushing it forward slightly.

“…I’ll see what I can do.” The clerk muttered in defeat, but nonetheless licking his lips.

(-3 gold, 95 gold remaining)

>I’m pleased we could work out an agreement. I’m sure it doesn’t need to be asked where this came from?
>I would like to remind you that I help those who help me. Name your price for anything, and I can match it in the future. Do you need any more motivation for this current request?
>I’d better see what I want when I need it, else the wrong people will hear about it. Am I clear?
>Other

>>1593897
>>1593913
>close second

In the game of waifus you win or you're a cuck.

>>1593983
>I’m pleased we could work out an agreement. I’m sure it doesn’t need to be asked where this came from?
>I’d better see what I want when I need it, else the wrong people will hear about it. Am I clear?
We just slapped 3 bars of gold on the table. Clerky needs to know we mean serious bizniz

>>1594029
Support.

>>1594029
Seconded.

>>1593983
You got me there.

>>1594029
Also supporting

“I’m pleased we would work out an agreement.” You smiled innocently at him, though his reaction was more that of somebody looking at him like they were about to bite him. “I’m sure it doesn’t need to be asked where this came from?”

“Nope,” the clerk said hurriedly, “No questions, no answers, just what’s here right now.”

“Good.” You locked the case back up and pulled it back off. “However, I’d better see what I want when I need it, in a couple of hours or so, or else the wrong people will hear about it. Am I clear?”

The clerk pulled at his collar. “O-of course.” He knew well enough that nobody slung gold about unless they were serious about their business.

“Excellent. Now,” you leaned forward on the counter, “Just to get things over with, I’d like to get my shell sooner than any of the other items…”

Thankfully, it seemed that whomever had been mistakenly allocated the shell had recognized it as nonstandard. It was a simple matter of taking out of the ammunition depot, where the dangerous weapon had been stashed in a dusty corner to be forgotten.

Carrying a shell around out and about would be absurd; not to mention unsafe. You received a large wooden case to transport it in, which was promptly loaded by teamsters into the car you were borrowing. With a quick thanks, you went off to where you were to meet the other vagabonds taking part in your misadventure.

Whom you did not expect to arrive first was the familiar, decorated face of the Riverman.
He approached you openly, apparently comfortable with his appearance as one of the city’s many mystics here.

“You’re here earlier than I thought you would be…” You mused.

“There were no poison weapons in use at Koudestroom.” The Riverman declared.

“There weren’t?” you repeated, confused.

“A sort of vapor was used,” the Riverman held up a piece of debris that was stained red by some substance, “but it was not what you said it would be.”

“Would you put that down!?” you slapped the piece of debris out of his hand, taking care to only hit his hand. “Not every gas works right away! That could be contaminated with Phosgene, or some other horrible substance.”

“It is not poisonous.” The Riverman said again, “This is some sort of dye, a food coloring, to be exact.”

“If you came to ask me why we were shelling a town with food coloring, you’ve got me beat.”

“I cannot think of why they did it either,” the Riverman held up a pair of copper plated bullets, “but when I arrived there, there were strange men dressed in black suits. They responded in a rather hostile manner to me, and I was forced to retreat.”

“I thought you were tougher than that.” You smirked.

“Few men, even ones such as myself, can handle a dozen armed men.” The Rivermen retorted, “I had hoped you would know what…what is that you have in the automobile?”
The soulbinder walker past you and peered at the wooden box, before throwing off the lid.

“Hey! I didn’t say you could touch that!” you shoved him away, but he stared at the Hellfire shell.

“What are you doing with a Core?” he asked, with befuddlement dripping from every syllable.

>What’s a core?
>None of your business. Pretend you never saw it. I’m more interested in these men in black.
>A present from my wife. She has an unladylike taste in gifts, but it suits me fine.
>Other

>>1594323
I don't want him to know our wife has such things as this. He'll come after her and won't leave us alone.

>>1594323
>>None of your business. Pretend you never saw it. I’m more interested in these men in black.

>>1594340
Agreed. Besides, im sure we could ask Maddy about the core when we rescue her. Seems like the less Riverman knows about us the better

>>1594363
Alright, supporting this.

>>1594323

>You don't seem too thankful for my attempt to warn you about Koudestroom's impending doom, even if it did turn out to be only food coloring, so I don't feel particularly motivated to share any more secrets with you. Unless you have information that would interest me in exchange, I'll be on my way.

>>1594377
No, no! I change my vote, I'm supporting this. More information is good.

>>1594377
Supporting. Give us secretssssss

>>1594377
I'll go with this one.

“You don’t seem too thankful for my attempt to warn you about Koudestroom’s impending dood, even if it was…food coloring as you claim. I don’t feel particularly motivated to share any more secrets with you, unless you have anything I’d be interested in in exchange.”

“Do not mistake my negotiation with you for trust, officer of the Archduke,” the Riverman said firmly, “I came to see if you knew anything about this turn of events, and were not merely trying to deceive me…or even, perhaps, attempt to lure me into a trap. If I had not waited until I had calmed myself to approach you, you would have found me as an enemy rather than an observer.”

“I didn’t know anything about it other than what I told you,” you said, made irritable by the Riverman’s threatening tone, “I didn’t know it was otherwise until you told me just now. I’m as interested in these men in black that you saw as you are in the thing I have.”

“In any case, I doubt that I know anything that could help you now.” The Riverman acted as if you hadn’t said anything at all. “Selgess has made his announcement, and your friend was taken before I even knew the Blood Sun had made their move. There is little you can do, from where I stand, other than follow Selgess’s commands. Our mutual distaste for the Blood Suns would mean that I could inform you on how you could fight him, and his Blood Tide…but the chances of you fighting are remote. They intend to hold you hostage on the other side of the river until reinforcements arrive.”

>Say if I did intend to fight him. What then? Because I am.
>If only, hm? Well, I suppose we have nothing more to discuess.
>You said you worked with the Blood Sun. You might be an arrogant dick, but somehow you don’t seem the type.
>Other

>>1594637
>"Never thought you were the type to work with the Blood Sun...so, say if I did intend to fight him? What then?"

>>1594637
>You said you worked with the Blood Sun. You might be an arrogant dick, but somehow you don’t seem the type.

We can't tip him off. he still wants to prevent us invading Valsten even if he does dislike Selgess.

Hell for all we know he HELPED them kidnap Maddy and the other Nobles. I smell wizard bullshit antics in this.

>>1594698
I do too. Supporting.

>>1594698
In fact adding onto this, just how the hell did the Blood Sun know she was our betrothed, or how she was even HERE? Haven't we only been here a few days.

He did though, and it's a nice bloodless way to help his nation. I'm onto you Riverman.

>>1594728
That...makes sense. Never thought about that.

>>1594637

>You're right, the chances of me fighting Selgess now are all but nothing. But you're also right that the Blood Suns are a despicable group of murderers. Why don't you tell me how to fight them anyway, so if I come across them in some other conflict I might be able to foil their less..."peaceful" plans?

You had some suspicions concerning this soulbinder. Not only did he work for the Blood Suns, but he had a history of pursuing Maddalyn; and now the Blood Suns held Maddalyn captive. This would have been a rather large coincidence, you thought to yourself.

“You said you worked with the Blood Sun,” you said carefully, keeping your cards close, “You might be an arrogant dick, but somehow you don’t seem the type.”

“It wasn’t out of appreciation for their character,” the Riverman snapped defensively, “They had something I wanted, and I exchanged my services for said item.”

“Said services and item being?”

“I would like to know why you have that core, if you wish to know that.”

“Nah.” You blew off the Riverman’s prompt, “I don’t care that much about your personal life. Something has been bugging me, though,” you stepped closer to the Riverman, looking into his eyes. Knowing that Poltergeist’s weave gave you a certain confidence. “The kidnapped girl; Maddalyn Von Blum, and I, we haven’t been here for very long. Scantly two days, in fact. How on earth did the Blood Sun find out she was here?”

The Riverman thought for a moment, then answered you. “They were informed through…certain means. I do not know how.”

Bull shit you don’t know how, you thought. “Do you know who I am?” you asked him.

“Considering the way the lady acted around you,” the Riverman said calmly, “You are presumably one of her brothers, a Von Blum, yourself.”

You laughed to yourself. “Guess again. Maddalyn Von Blum is my fiancée.”

The Riverman blinked at you. “She does not look of age to be married, but I suppose the degeneracy of Strossvald’s nobility knows no bounds.”

“Oh for God’s sake,” you spat, “She’s older than I am, she isn’t a child. Actually, I don’t know why I’m justifying myself to the likes of you.”

“I suppose you were going to ask if Selgess had any personal vendettas against you in particular,” the Riverman murmured dully, “To which I will say, no. He does not even know you exist. Maddalyn Von Blum’s importance came from her status as a territorial lord’s daughter, and the fact that she was here. To think that your presence had any influence would be to grossly overrate yourself.”

That stung slightly, even if it was most likely accurate.

However, even if you had nothing to do with it, the Riverman’s claim of how the Blood Sun came to know of Maddalyn’s presence was too suspect for you to trust. Then again, if he didn’t know something as basic as Maddalyn’s age, or whom her family members were, could he have really known who Maddalyn was when he first noticed the two of you, anyways?

There was a missing piece here, and you couldn’t think of where to find it. Perhaps, if you could somehow get at Maddalyn’s kidnappers…

You reminded yourself to have Hilda show you where Maddalyn had been abducted. Following any blood trail could present some answers.

“If you say so.” You said, feigning satisfaction, “You are correct, that we probably won’t be fighting the Blood Sun any time soon. However, they are also a band of violent mercenaries. They could be fighting in the future, could they not?”

“They could, it is possible.”

“So how about you tell me a few things anyways?”

“I have not forgotten that you have a core, you know.” The Riverman said darkly, “I will not betray any of my own secrets until you tell me something that I am interested in.”

“Lieutenant.” Hilda appeared from across the road, hands in her pockets. Her old clothing was gone, replaced with better fitting apparel, although her top was of a different sort- apparently, the surgeon had thought Hilda’s original wear not modest enough. “I was told to find you here.”

The Riverman turned to Hilda. “You again?” he looked back to you, then to her. “What are you doing here?”

“Hey,” Hilda said without inflection, “I know my face isn’t much to look at, but I’m not going to answer questions directed at my boobs.”

“Yes, don’t be rude to the woman,” you joined in dogpiling on the Riverman.

“That woman’s eyes are disconcerting to look at,” he muttered to you, “As if they have Earth Tears, but they do not…when such things look at us eye to eye, the feeling is…uncomfortable.”

>Perhaps you’d be interested in some other information (Clear with Hilda first)
>The core, then? I promise I’ll tell you about it if you tell me how to fight Selgess.
>Good for you, you don’t have to be here anymore. I have to attend to some business…without you, and with this woman. (Investigate the trail)
>Sounds like a lie for the sake of being a pervert. I hear women dress less modestly in Valsten, but that isn’t an invitation for your gaze to wander all of the time, you pig.
>Other

>>1595585
>Good for you, you don’t have to be here anymore. I have to attend to some business…without you, and with this woman. (Investigate the trail)

>>1595585
>Perhaps you’d be interested in some other information (Clear with Hilda first)

File: 1455992218671.png (67 KB, 900x1151)

67 KB PNG

>>1595585
>Perhaps you’d be interested in some other information (Clear with Hilda first)


If we ever want to use the core against him best not to tell him about it. It does give us options if we can somehow lure him to investigate it in the future and cause it to blow up in his face.

It's risky to tell him the identity of the Sniper but if Hilda explains her reasoning behind it then perhaps we can both educate the impotent fop that not everything is black/white and find out what we want to know about the Blood Sun.

Clearly it wasn't the Riverman who sold us out.

OR WAS IT? He's clearly suffering from disassociative neurological disorders that have given him a split personality!
I'M ONTO YOUR EVILER TWIN: STREAMGIRL.

>>1595773
So, where in the hell is Brookboy? He's hiding somewhere...

>>1595585
>>Good for you, you don’t have to be here anymore. I have to attend to some business…without you, and with this woman. (Investigate the trail)

>>1595585
>Good for you, you don’t have to be here anymore. I have to attend to some business…without you, and with this woman. (Investigate the trail)
Selgess has a tank. We probably can figure out how to fight a tank on our own

Would the Riverman have been interested in knowing the identity of the New Moon Sniper, who was standing before both of you? He did say that he had ceased pursuing Hilda’s secret identity, now that open warfare had broken out.

If he was not telling the truth about how he felt about this matter, though, it could put Hilda in serious risk. Was what he knew really worth risking Hilda’s health?

You decided that it was not.

“Good for you,” you said in response to the Riverman’s bitching, “you don’t have to endure it. Any business we had is done for now. I have to go and investigate something with this woman.”

The Riverman narrowed his eyes. “Very well, then. Have luck in your…investigation.”

Hilda watched the Riverman walk, rather than flit, away. “You want to look for clues, then.”

“I would have done it sooner, but my schedule filled up rather quickly.”

“I know.” Hilda said with something that would be approaching sarcasm if it wasn’t so monotone. “It’s nice to know I’m high on your list of priorities.” She let herself into the car, “I’ll show you where I last saw them. It’s hard to miss, with the blood splattered all over the place.”

You drove, rather slowly, through the city, until Hilda grabbed your shoulder and pointed.

“Down there.” She pointed to a dim alleyway between dusty, ashen old buildings; one of many passages behind derelict architecture around here.

“Rather spooky around here,” you stopped the car and got out, squinting down the grey and black cobble path. “What was Maddalyn doing walking down here?”

“The size of the city makes it seem safer than it is,” Hilda followed you, then stepped ahead, “There aren’t many homeless or criminals, since people are paid just to live around the place and put life back into it. The only reason people avoid this place here is because it’s haunted; if she wanted to go to the Aid Camp or wherever, she could just go straight through here for the most direct way.”
You saw a trail of blood at the end of the alley. Hilda stopped behind a few abandoned barrels, and turned towards the wall.

“There’s some of me,” she pointed at a smear of blood on the ground behind the barrels.

You knelt down, recalling your days of pursuing wounded animals. The freshness of the blood would tell you how long it had been since it had been spilled. It was dark, sticky; it couldn’t have been older than-

“What are you doing.” Hilda stared at you as you prodded her blood with an outstretched finger.

“I’m…seeing how long this has been here.”

“You could have just asked me.” Hilda said, not taking her judging eyes off of you.

“How long ago was it…” You asked with defeat.

“About an hour and a half ago, maybe two.” Hilda said.

That would have put you just across the bridge at the time. You began to follow the trail of blood the kidnappers had left- the shape of some of the trail indicated that one had suffered the wound on his leg, close to his foot; walking would have been quite painful, but he had done so anyways. It had been accompanying a much smaller trail of blood, but about two blocks down, the two trails had split.
One seemed to go east, towards the shore, while the other went south, towards the front. The east heading one was the one that had been bleeding more; presumably their plan would have been to avoid the front to the south, and to go down the river to a quieter place. Who knows what the south heading one would have been thinking.

>Follow the eastwards one first.
>Follow the southwards trail.
>Other actions?

>>1598408
Eastward we go.

>>1598408

Split up like in scooby doo

>>1598408
>Follow the southwards trail.

I will defer to eastward if no one else votes for south.

My reasoning is that whoever had to capacity to fake a telegram while also learning about Maddy may also be pretending to be with the army or they have a way across the bridge to get back faster. Also the bleeder may have split off to get healed while leaving Maddy to the healthier one.

>>1598534
Supporting.

“The trail splits here,” you stated to Hilda, “So I’ll take the trail going south. You take the one going east, towards the river. We’ll meet back up here after we reach where they end, or once they lead out of the city.”

Hilda nodded and began to follow the blood that went east, and you both parted ways.

After about a hundred meters or so, the blood trail went cold. You sagged, disappointed, when you noticed a splotch of deep, black matter.

It could have been mere oil, you thought, but you had the suspicion of it being something else. You touched it, and brought it to your nose…

It smelled of blood, something else that was unfamiliar but deeply unsettling, and just below all of that, the scent of Maddalyn’s perfume, oddly strong; far more than you were aware of her wearing.

You assumed that, while the kidnapper was tending to his wounds, Maddalyn must have partially wriggled free of her bonds, and gouged her eye, unable to free her feet.

That would have been quite noticeable, however, and apparently the kidnapper agreed; there was no continuing trail of black matter other than the initial splatter. He must have rebound her and put a stop to that particular nastiness.

Although, it seemed as though the trail went cold here. At least, as far as your eyes could perceive.

>There must be something else (Write in)
>Give up and go back; there’s nothing else here.

>>1599155
Will the Hungry Darkness we have in a can be able to sniff her out? Only thing I can think of.

>>1599217
If we can, I vote for this.

>>1599217
>>1599229
While you could try, I'd keep in mind that there are spirit predators about, and that if this place really is haunted, there might be things that would excite it more than eye goo.

So it could work, or it might be a risk, or it might just hide.

Also, you don't really know exactly how these things sense, but you do have a decent enough idea of its nature to conclude that it probably doesn't have a nose, and would be following eye goo; something that are far as you can see is only in one spot.

>>1599237
>>Give up and go back; there’s nothing else here.
Alright then, let's see what Hilda found.

>>1599155

Maybe she tried leaving a trail of her perfume behind and that's why it smells so strongly? Try smelling the ground and seeing if we can smell her perfume in more places.

>>1599321
I change my vote to this

It couldn’t have been coincidence that you smelled Maddalyn’s perfume under all that; nobody, not even girls with bizarre methods of seeing, put perfume in their eyes.

Now that you knew what you were looking…well, sniffing for, it was a simple matter to hover off the ground. The scent was quite strong; enough for you, thankfully, to not keep your nose to the ground at all times; you just squatted down every so often.

Sometimes you had to retrace your steps to get a whiff of the perfume again; you were thankful that this part of town was abandoned, else you would have to suffer becoming the next local legend, of the Crab Man.

You were thinking about whether you would have to join the likes of the Riverman, Stream Girl, and….and, you don’t know, Brook Boy? Such nonsense was keeping you occupied when you suddenly happened upon an empty lot.

“A ha!” you exclaimed in satisfaction, rushing in. On the ground were the telltale signs of tire tracks. “I knew it!”

Of course, this didn’t actually put you any closer to Maddalyn, but it did tell you more about what had happened. You could tell at a glance that the tracks, judging by their depth and the sort of tread, were Handelwagen 2-tons. Handelwagen, being a Nauklander company, used different sorts of tires than most of Strossvald’s wheeled fleet of vehicles; to an experienced hunter and stalker as yourself, telling the difference between those and any other automobile’s tread was child’s play.

As soon as you stopped feeling satisfied with yourself, you thought about what to do next.

>Look around the site for something in particular (Write in)
>Go back to Hilda and bring her here.
>There probably isn’t too much to find here that could help you; meet up with Hilda and return to the rendezvous point for the future operation.

>>1599529
>Look around the site for something in particular

Let's see where the tracks lead.

>>1599562
Seconded

>>1599562
Supporting, afterwards collect Hilda and lets get our Heroic Charge ready.

>>1599529
>Look around the site for something in particular

Hopefully this isn't slowing us down.

>>1599529
Why are we doing all this? Maddy is already in Selgess' hands. We know where he is without tracking.

>>1600044

It's our duty to follow every possible lead. They wouldn't have had time to leave the country with her yet so she might still be nearby.

>>1600587
She is nearby. With Selgess, just over the frontline.

Hey guys, hate to say it but I won't be running today. I'll be back around at Friday at what's supposed to be the standard time of 3PM EST

>>1600044
Well, yes, you already know where she is, sort of.
The goal is more the how and who.

>>1601348
s'cool. As long as we get to joust Selgess on top of our tank I'm down for anything.

>>1601384
Do we have a sword? Can we demand Malachi to drive us closer so we can hit Selgess with it?

WOW LATE AS USUAL TO THE SURPRISE OF NOBODY

You didn’t really have time concerns; really, you were waiting for everyone else to finish their tasks. Selgess’s deadline wouldn’t be reached for a few more hours.

You only followed the tracks of the truck far enough to make sure they were going south; it was pretty obvious that it would have gone over the bridge, in any case. The Blood Suns certainly weren’t anywhere else.

A brief look about the site, searching for nothing in particular, revealed just that. Slightly dissatisfied, you retraced your steps to the place where you and Hilda split up, and found her waiting there.

“No luck.” She preempted your question, “Just led into one of the ruins here and stopped. Probably stopped the bleeding and left to who knows where.”

“That’s fine,” you dismissed Hilda’s concern, “They took a truck south. I found the place where they were keeping it.”

“The creeps weren’t uniformed, you know.” Hilda said, “Wouldn’t that stand out when driving an army truck.”

“A hand off to disguised conspirators, I guess.” You shrugged, “It won’t matter once we go over that bridge anyways. Let’s head back.”

-----

You got back to the assembly point, and had to wait a while before your fellow rogues-to-be began to trickle in.

First came Von Metzeler and Krause with a new m/32-47.

“Good work,” you told them as they disembarked, “…How did you get it?”

“It had a slight malfunction,” Von Metzeler said, “One that is a sign of a complete mechanical failure in the near future. We appropriated it to take to rear line maintenance.”

“Then after they ate up that little fib we stole it.” Krause smiled, “Didn’t even have to use to toy the creepy guy gave us. He said not to overuse it anyways.”

Soon after, another car drove up. It carried two men in dark grey tanker uniforms, and the more typical navy blue and black uniformed figure of what was likely some normal logistics personnel.

“The rest of your request’ll be ready to pick up in an hour or so…” the courier said as the two tank men lumbered out, “If that’s a problem that’s too bad…this already made a mess of red tape as is…or something…”

The car screeched off before you had anything to say to the lethargic courier.

“So…” you looked over the two crewmen that had been dropped off; part of your parley for whatever you could get from logistics, “You must be the Imperial and the Bandit.”

“Sir Dorian Bonne, at your service,” the former Imperial soldier was tall and broad, with a well-groomed beard and moustache. His voice had the slightest hint of Emrean accent that tinged his New Nauk with the patterns of the Northern Reich. He appeared to be at the top of his thirties, and carried himself with the airs of one of well-mannered birth. He bowed deeply to you.

“Tch.” The other man sneered at this display, “You won’t be seeing any of that shit from me, your prissiness. ‘ja call me a bandit? Eat me. I was an Iron Hog, best god damn tankers for hire in the wastes. You call Hell Gitt or any of his Hogs bandits and you’d be to be eating your teeth off the floor.”

“There is no difference between a Sosaldtian “mercenary” and a filthy, unrepentant bandit who preys upon the weak.” You said, clipping each word as it came out, “The only reason you stand here is because you apparently had a change of heart, something I respect, but will not praise.”

“Man,” the tanker you remembered being called Alek Zellt started snickering, “What eastern flower stole your heart or shat in your soup? You’ve got such a stick in your ass about Sosaldt that it’s comical.”

You revealed the two chunks of gold you had prepared to cement these two’s loyalty with.

Alek whistled. “You know, I could learn to like you with that attitude. Always liked a bonus up front.”

“I cannot,” Dorian respectfully turned away, “A true knight does not accept a reward until it is justly earned.”

“Hell, I’ll take it if you don’t want it then.” Alek grasped at air as you held the gold away.

“Not so fast.” You said, “You don’t even know what I want you to do yet.”

“This isn’t my first time around the block, Lieutenant…whatever.” Alek cocked a mocking eyebrow at you, “You don’t pay people with gold unless you want them to do something they wouldn’t otherwise. Lucky for you that the only thing I want is gold. I don’t need to know anything else.”

“Too bad,” you said, wiggling the brick in front of him, “You’re going to sit through my story anyways.”

So you told a vastly abridged version of the tale.
“That’s certainly some shit in your soup,” Alek observed. “Selgess, though? He’s a fucking chump. My old toon boss would chew up his whole band and spit his ass in the trash.”

>You know something about these Blood Suns, and Selgess? Tell me. (Write in questions)
>I get the feeling that your self-aggrandizement is not justified. Now that you know the deal, I trust that you will be unquestionably obeying my commands, in return for generous reward?
>Other

>>1601659
>Do we have a sword?

You have an officer's sword as symbol of your rank. Most would be using a familial heirloom for such things, but since your great-uncle sold the piece to pay off debts...
You have been using a mass-produced piece, that while serviceable, is certainly not something to show off if you want to preserve dignity.

>>1604842
>I get the feeling that your self-aggrandizement is not justified. Now that you know the deal, I trust that you will be unquestionably obeying my commands, in return for generous reward?


> but since your great-uncle sold the piece to pay off debts...

Petty nobility, man.........

>>1604842
>You know something about these Blood Suns, and Selgess? Tell me.
>I've heard they have to many landships and not enough destroyer turrets to go around. Any thoughts on whether this one is special?
>Any vulnerabilities I should know about? Weak transmission, overloaded engine, cooling issues, weak spots in the armor?
>Selgess himself, is he really that much of a romantic?
>What's his experience as a tanker?
>Are his men likely to help him in a duel?
>Will they try to take revenge if he's taken out?

>>1604842
>You know something about these Blood Suns, and Selgess? Tell me.


Service history, Tactics, SOPs? Anything that'll help us predict the way they'll fight.

Ask about what Selgess is like too, we're gona have to taunt him into fighting us after all.

“You know something about these Blood Suns, and Selgess?” you asked, taken aback. “Tell me.”

“Ask away,” Alek held his hands out, “Gold for my thoughts, though.”

You tossed him the brick, which he bit before pocketing.

“Mm. Right, what do you want to know? Other than what it’s like to work with him, Iron Hogs didn’t go south ‘cept to knock fools about.”

“The landships they have…” you started, “Called the Red Tides, I believe. What do you know about them?”

“Selgess’s got one of those?” Alek crooked an eyebrow again and peered at you, angled down, “Okay, first off, there’s only one Red Tide. It’s the Blood Sun’s pride and joy. It ain’t something they’d trust a clown like Selgess the Shitling with.”

“So the only one is over the bridge?”

“Hell if I know,” Alek shrugged, “Anyways, you gotta realize how the Blood Suns operate. The Red Tide looks real impressive on paper, and when it’s right in front of you, sure, it’s big and bad…”

“Weak transmission? Overloaded engine? Cooling issues, weak spots in the armor?” you prompted.

“Cool it, I’m getting to that.” Alek protested, “Anyways, you’re right. The thing’s way, way too big for its own good as it was originally built, and the modifications the Blood Suns made only made it bigger. Everybody talks a bit game about the ship gun turret up top, so much that they forget that it was made wider. The tracks got bigger. They shoved another engine in it. It’s no joke in a battle, but the thing’s such a pain in the ass to even get anywhere, you can’t put it over a lot of bridges for example, that they only break it out when they need something scary enough to make the other guys not even want to fight. The only times it’s supposed to have even fired its weapons were when it was basically knocking towns to pieces. They’ve never brought it out against other tanks, for example. Every other time it’s come out, whoever they’re against has either run away or surrendered.”

“That wasn’t really my question…” you said, but Alek talked over you.

“You have to see the big picture here, golden boy. They don’t bring the thing out to fight. They bring it out to show how big their balls are and why you ought to just lay down your arms. Every time it’s rolled out, they’re expecting to not have to actually use it. Get me?”

“I get you.” You nodded. “What if they did want to use it, though?”

“See how misty it’s getting?” Alek pointed out the weather, “Visibility will be way down. Ship guns aren’t well known for their ability to depress. Get close enough, and he won’t be able to aim down far enough to hit you with it.”

“I see.”

“Also, the tracks. The original vehicle it’s built on had a fixed gun. Take out its ability to turn, and you’ve halved its firepower. There’s no way the ship gun’s turning fast either; you can run a circle around it. As for armor…tough luck. You aren’t getting through that with anything less than a howitzer. That thing was built to take on the Ellowian’s hard bunkers; your dinky little tanks won’t scratch the Red Tide’s paint if you go for the front.”

“Right, enough about the tank,” you said, “Tell me about Selgess himself. I hear he’s a romantic.”

“Certainly not when it comes to women,” Alek laughed nervously, “He makes pirates look like gentlemen. No, he’s obsessed with duels. Challenges. Anything with drama to it; a big story behind the fight going on. ‘S why he’s such a crap mercenary; can’t put his heart into it just for the money.”

“What about his experience? His history?”

“Dunno much about that.” Alek said with little concern, “Just one fight, when the Iron Hogs went down to break apart the Blood Suns trying to get a big town to bend the knee to one of the Walled Cities. I was there, Selgess was there. Selgess’s guys got scattered with the dust when he my toon boss dove into his boys. Selgess himself’s a fighter, for sure, but his guys all picked up and left when his tank got hit. Hear the setup they have is to all go home and figure out who’s king after their big guy goes down. Unfortunately for them Selgess followed them home.”

“He wasn’t in the Red Tide?” you asked.

“Hell no.” Alek spat, “The Blood Sun are big. They aren’t going to let some nobody like Selgess was back then near their steel baby.”

“But it was there, wasn’t it?”

“Naw. Hell was pissed that the Blood Sun didn’t try and fight his tanks with it, either. He had a whole scheme for taking it down, and they just took off with the thing.”

“So that’s where your theory about them just having it for show comes from.”

“Pre-cisely. Not that they’ve never fought with it, but a lot of the time? They’re awfully picky about what they do with it besides parade it around. It also shows up in a lot more places than it should, but hey. The thing’s a pig, but it isn’t slow, from what I hear.”

“So how do the Blood Sun fight?” you asked.

“Blood Sun fight good. Almost as good as the Iron Hogs.” Alek put a finger in his palm, “That’s only their core, though. Selgess is some bandit king who’s sworn fealty to them. He’s budget Blood Sun. So they fight like bandits who can afford a boatload of tanks do. Go forward and smash; not like their usual competition can take them on without any cannons or tanks anyways. They’re not too clever, but they fight hard and they fight good. Have to, in order to survive.”

That was somewhat of a relief. You could probably outthink Selgess the Skull and his men, even if the firepower disparity was not ideal.

“He’ll come out and fight us though, right?” you asked him, “Instead of retreating or hiding behind all his men.”

“Oh, hell yes he will.” Alek grinned, “You kidding me? This shit needs to be on the silver screen with popcorn. It’s too dramatic for him to possibly pass up. Even if he wasn’t the sort, he’s a king. If he doesn’t make like he’s got big nuts in front of his guys, he’ll look weak and somebody will try taking his title from him. He doesn’t have a goddamn choice. He’ll probably take you on with some of his guys, but that’s only if you bring all your guys, like you’re saying you’ll do.”

Reassuring.

“Of course, since you’re going after your fiancée…well, to put it bluntly, even though he’d be blowing off any ransom doing this, after Selgess kills you he’s taking your widow home and plowing her. So a little motivation for you.”

“I was already motivated to not die.” You muttered bitterly.

“I’m just saying. He’s a fan of real old traditions, even before Nauk, where you don’t stick it in another man’s woman unless you killed him. So don’t worry about it, all you have to do is kill Selgess instead and there’ll be nothing to worry about for your sweetie.”

“I really needed that, you know.” You said hotly, “Getting back to business, won’t his men be pissed after I kill Selgess? I do need to follow them home, after all. Hard to do if I have to kill them all.”

“Nah. They’ll be gone.” Alek answered, “They’ll put their contract on hold and head straight back to Sosaldt, to their town where they get all their taxes and recruits from, their little castle, and figure out who’s the new big boss. Easy as pie.”

>Anything else?
>Thank you, that’ll be all. All there is to do now is wait.
>I’d like to know a bit about you two, now. Since we’re all going into this foolhardy task together (write in)
>Other

>>1604992
>Thank you, that’ll be all. All there is to do now is wait.

>>1604992
>>Thank you, that’ll be all. All there is to do now is wait.

>>1604992

>Thank you, that’ll be all. All there is to do now is wait.

>>1604988
>Hell was pissed that the Blood Sun didn't try and fight his tank.

Hold up. Heller von Tracht?

“You were talking about somebody named Hell, though?” you asked, “As in…Heller Von Tracht?”

“What? No.” Alek looked surprised, “Helmut Gitt. Hell Gitt for short.”

“Ah.” You felt disappointed with that answer, though still suspicious. How many people called themselves Hell, anyways? “Where did he come from?”

“Nobody knew except ol’ Schweinmann.” Alek said, “His accent was Strossvalder, though. Never thought to hide the way he talked.”

A mere possibility, but a possibility nevertheless. “Thank you, that’ll be all.” You went over to your car and leaned against it, “Now all there is to do is wait.”

Soon, your platoon had come to the assembly point, plus an m/28-25.

“Where did this come from?” you walked around it.

“Replacement for the tank we lost,” Von Neubaum popped out from inside, “We’re overflowing a bit on armor, aren’t we.”

You shrugged and made a noncommittal noise. If things went poorly, you’d at least have even more reserves, you supposed.

More time passed, and Captain Honnrieg and two teams of raiders arrived, along with the things you asked them to requisition.

“How long do we have til we go?” Honnrieg jumped off the PzA-19, “I’d rather not have the guys we borrowed these from getting curious with us still around here.”

“Just until we can pick up our supplies from the depot, then we can go any time.” You checked your watch. “Actually, we can just head over now. They’ll be ready soon, and we’ll be waiting.”

-----

It had been a simple job of picking up everything; no awkward questions were asked. The teamsters merely silently loaded what was needed onto the trucks, and you were off before you knew it.

You were glad to be back inside your tank, soon enough, carting the Hellfire shell with you.

“Back up to two, then?” Stein asked.

“We’ll see,” you said to him, slotting the shell into the ready rack beside the other one, “I’ve been getting conflicting information about this foe we’re about to fight. He might be serious business, he might be nothing. I’ll be ready for either one though."

There was two hours until Selgess’s deadline. The Shade had advised you to move out at least an hour before. Although you were ready now, the mist was beginning to turn into fog. If you waited another hour, it would probably become quite thick. The fighting would be close; did you want that?

>Move out now. The fog will only hinder operations against lighter vehicles that can be dealt with from a range.
>Wait for the fog to come in. It will help against the heavy vehicles expected if you are able to get in close.
>Other

>>1605182
>Wait for the fog to come in. It will help against the heavy vehicles expected if you are able to get in close.

>>1605182
>>Wait for the fog to come in. It will help against the heavy vehicles expected if you are able to get in close.

>>1605182

>Wait for the fog to come in. It will help against the heavy vehicles expected if you are able to get in close.

I doubt with the numbers they have that fog would be good for them. More likely they shoot each other by accident or just endlessly crash into one another.

Alek said they were "budget" and the small tanks are fodder. Do most of their tanks even have radios or fog lights?

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You decided it best to wait until the fog came in. You weren’t concerned about the small fry; your 13mms and 2.5 cm guns would handle them easily. Anything heavier would have to be dealt with up close and personal.

Especially the Red Tide; you still weren’t sure if the Intelligence Office, who said that there were multiples of this tank, or if Alek, who claimed there was only one, was the correct one, but you weren’t going to take a chance on that. The fog would obscure Selgess’s ability to blast at you with it until you were too close to target with it.

The fog had gotten nice and thick when your watch ticked over 9:30 AM. It was time to do this thing.

You had tried to get out all the anxiety while waiting, and failed, but once you were back inside the tank it felt as if your mind had been cleared. All of the mist inside was now outside. Your world was now the platoon.
Well, and its additional assets.

It was about time to embark upon this crusade.

>Current platoon information updated
>Any rearrangements of vehicle loading should be made now. The m/32-47 has been placed in reserves; as requested by an earlier post, but if you aren’t confident and want more firepower up front, with the risk of it being damaged, then say so.
>No changes need be made
>Other concerns?

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>>1605308
>No changes need be made

SHOVE OFF

>>1605308
Looks good, let's go.

>>1605308

Tanks are meant to be used, give the 47 to Metzeler and his 37 to krause.

>>1605308
>No changes need be made
Hit it.
>Other concerns?
Plenty but maybe the enemy will surrender.

>>1605308
Ask Metzeler if he wants to trade up to the m/32-47. Might as well try to maximize firepower if were going to be using the entire squad in this engagement. And if he does agree, we can shuffle his tank over to one of the m28-25 crews that want to use it.

Otherwise I cant think of anything that needs to be changed.

Honnreigs men wont be engaged right? The fog is to thick for them to be using AT Rifles, and having them sneak around in low visibility could be suicidal.

>>1605359
>Honnreigs men wont be engaged right? The fog is to thick for them to be using AT Rifles, and having them sneak around in low visibility could be suicidal.

Unless stated otherwise, they along with the other non-combat or non-crewed platoon possessions will be behind the formation, out of range of battle.

You quickly had Von Metzeler exchange his 37 for a 47, and gave the 37 to Krause. That would leave Von Igel as the sole officer with a smaller tank, but you had a bad feeling he wouldn’t be alone in that for long, anyways.

Now would have been the time for a speech, but, you couldn’t really think of one.

“Gentlemen,” you said over the net, “I don’t know what we’ll encounter, but I can say with confidence, that when we arrive at the end of it all, we’ll either be Strossvald’s most valiant sons, or the luckiest idiots this side of Sosalia. 5th Platoon, Bat Company, forward!”

That was that message taken care of. Now for the other.

“Captain Schwartzholdt,” you addressed company command, “I’m afraid that I am about to desert. I cannot hand in my resignation in person, so just trust that I won’t be fighting with you for a long time.”

“Lieutenant Von Tracht?” came the dumbfounded response, “Is this some sort of joke? Desertion is treason! This is not a matter to abuse in some poor attempt at humor, especially not in these times!”

“No joke, Captain,” you said mournfully, “That Selgess the Skull bastard across the river kidnapped my fiancée, and I can’t just let him get away with that. I’m going over to show him what happens when you toy with a noble lord of Strossvald. Von Tracht, out.”

You then told Hans to switch the radio to platoon once more.

“Boss…” Hans squinted back at you, “Shouldn’t we have waited until we were over the bridge for that?”

“When Selgess calls up command about our mad run, he has to receive an immediate response that we’re a bunch of deserters. If there’s even a hint that we’re still affiliated with Strossvald, we risk the hostages that he’s holding.” You explained, “We’ll just have to hope that the current circumstances have kept the security on the bridge light.”

The bridge was indeed only staffed lightly, and when you arrived, they were unprepared for you to burst through their checkpoint. You didn’t stick around to hear their awestruck exclamations; you charged through with your platoon and convoy both.