“What?” Gerovic wriggled in the sheets he was bundled in, “I can’t see so well in here, you know.” A sigh from yourself, and a gesture to the Ellowians, a squad of whom had escorted you back. They dumped Gerovic onto the snowy ground.”Auoof!” He objected, rubbing his eyes and blinking. He was so…ordinary. Even more so in person than in the photograph. You hadn’t gotten to take a good look at him before now- you both got a good look at each other now.

“I thought I heard the unfamiliar tone of a Strossvalder accent,” Gerovic stood up, brushed himself off. He reached for his pocket and the Ellowians all pointed guns at him, to which he clicked his tongue. “Relax, gentlemen, I’m unarmed. Though. Kommandant Von Tracht, was it?” Gerovic gave you a smile you didn’t like, “I hadn’t heard you were blonde. Who did you dye it for?”

“…Be quiet.” You gave the only response he’d get for that. “Answer the question. I don’t have to bring you in alive…” This air of levity Gerovic had was puzzling. Was he putting on an act? He couldn’t have been treating this like he was going on some sort of adventure, could he?

Gerovic frowned. “I thought you’d be more fun. More smug. I suppose it’s said to never meet your heroes.” He took a look around, and pointed north. “Down that way, I guess. The path. There weren’t many of them sticking around here once I dealt with your mercenaries. You ought to decorate them.” A smile back to you. “What’s wrong with the way you talk? Somebody with your appearance shouldn’t speak like a dullard.”

“…Gag him. I don’t want to hear anything else from him…”

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“One moment, one moment,” Gerovic held up his hand, “Von Tracht. I’ve something to return that I borrowed. I’ll reach into my pocket here, and your Kaiser’s Kneelers won’t shoot me, is that fair?” Regardless, he had already slowly reached into his pocket…and withdrew some delicate black cloth. He looped his thumb into one part of it, and let it dangle. It was…familiar. “I couldn’t resist.”

“…Where did you get that..?” you demanded.

“I plucked them off of her hips personally while you were gone from her side, I’d dare to say they might even still be warm.” Gerovic splayed his hands towards you and to the sides, innocently, a smile returning. “So? How about I give these back, and in return for my kindness, we at least chat on the way to whatever prison you hope to keep me in? Hopefully the home of a beautiful woman?”

This was a man feared by many. Who had bounties upon his head for his destruction, whom the Archduchy’s intelligence arm had an interest in above any others of his ilk. Here he was, mocking you with Anya’s underwear, a look on his face like he had landed in a surprise birthday party. Smug self-assurance, and not even spread across the face of a half-dressed athletic blonde. Incredibly annoying.

>Have Gerovic gagged and be on your way to the UGZ. Enough lip from him. He was wasting your time.
>Punch the Twaryian right in his face and take back that underclothing. How dare he?
>On second thought, he could go to a beautiful woman’s house. In subjective terms. He could be taken right to the Major, without delay.
>Other?

Past Threads are collected here: https://pastebin.com/UagT0hnh
Twitter for announcements and various horseshit is @scheissfunker

>>4276767
>>Have Gerovic gagged and be on your way to the UGZ. Enough lip from him. He was wasting your time.
Gag him with the pantsu

>>4276767
>What the fuck is going on with your hand you fucking mutant?
>Don't hit him, because he's obviously provoking us exactly for that.
>Gag him, but not with the pantsu because he might like that.
>Bring him to UGZ because we can't rightly bring our men to see the Major, can we?
>Let Anya punch him. A lot.

>>4276783
>>What the fuck is going on with your hand you fucking mutant?
Oops.
I plead the fifth for backwards hands. No, he doesn't have two left hands.

>>4276767
>Have Gerovic gagged and be on your way to the UGZ. Enough lip from him. He was wasting your time.
I'm sure the rest of our guys would be happy to show their 'appreciation' for last night's raid.

>>4276789
Also if our leg is really going to slow us down send a couple of guys ahead and see if the UGZ can get any transport plus escort to link up with us.

>>4276767
>Have Gerovic gagged and be on your way to the UGZ. Enough lip from him. He was wasting your time.

>>4276767
>On second thought, he could go to a beautiful woman’s house. In subjective terms. He could be taken right to the Major, without delay.

>>4276767
wait a moment, he has 2 left hands ? that explains everything

>>4276767
>>On second thought, he could go to a beautiful woman’s house. In subjective terms. He could be taken right to the Major, without delay.

>>4276777
Eat the side ties.

>>4276783
Belay that.

>>4276789
>>4276806
The actual vote of the two previous of not hearing any more lip and going to the UGZ. And getting a ride there instead of murdering your legs any more.

>>4276853
>>4276905
Make a direct visit north.

Writing.

Gerovic was practically begging to be punched- but you wouldn’t give him the pleasure. You snatched Anya’s underwear back out of his hand. “…I’ve heard enough. Tie him and gag him.”

“If you wouldn’t mind, you’ve a perfectly suitable gag right there-“

“Shut your mouth.” Gerovic wanted to banter, but you didn’t. You were sick of him and all his shit. “Pikkarski…can you take some men ahead to the UGZ? I don’t think I can walk there the way my leg is. It’d probably save time to send some cars back here…”

“Of course, coordinator.”

Gerovic had stopped his smarmy commentary for a moment, but as the squad put his arms back and prepared the rags to be used, his gaze flicked from them, to you, that smug look on his face the whole time. “I rather expected a duel of panzers, but you chose this route. Trickery and drugging, espionage. You got me, I suppose. But it does tell me…we’ve nothing to fear from you lot.” Having his last word, Gerovic accepted his binding, and sat down on the ground like he was taking a break from some voluntary duty.

You’d be happy to be rid of him, you thought as you turned your back on him. “…Get the woman out of her bag. She should be up soon, and we’ll be waiting here…”
-----

Lucia woke up some time before anybody came back for you at the camp- unlike at the brothel, she was far from talkative. A tentative, uneasy look about to orient herself- before asking where her son was. You told her how it was. That he’d be retrieved when possible. Lucia had frowned, said nothing, then gone back to her uncomfortable glancing about. You hoped she wasn’t feeling deceived; you’d take Gerovic alive like she’d unreasonably requested, she could at least trust you to hold up the easier part of your deal.

The hopeful sound of cars approaching- though the squad that Pikkarski had left with you told you to stay down in case they were Moskity. Not so- merely Von Metzeler and a few escorts. A few large cars, with armed motorcycle protection.

“…Von Tracht…” Von Metzeler saluted you after he stopped in front of you, his other arm at his side, terminating in an empty sleeve. You were too tired to return the gesture. Von Metzeler gave a glance to Gerovic, sitting peacefully on the ground. A glance back to you- you nodded. “…I am unimpressed…” he said to Gerovic, “…You were not gone so long, but you must have many questions…we will talk as we return to the UGZ-09…”

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The car was covered- more suitable for talk, both in noise reduction and the lack of cold wind and snowflakes blowing into your face. Gerovic had led a raiding force the other night, whose composition and numbers were still unclear, but a lucky outing by the mercenaries attached to you had given a valuable early warning. As the Hogs delayed, Krause had made the decision that, based on the information available, staying in place would incur heavy casualties while still being driven from the camp, so a rapid evacuation had been staged. What couldn’t be taken along was sabotaged, information and radios and codes were destroyed, and supplies burned. This had resulted in very few casualties- Gerovic’s party managed to reach the tail end of the retreat’s rearguard action, which prevented complete scuttling of the vehicles left behind- but the company’s stores of ammunition were in critical condition, and the X-80 as well as the captured T-15 had been lost. A reexamination of the hull had revealed that before destroying the X-80, a selection of ammunition including its high-explosive plastic shells had been taken. The Iron Hogs’ tanks had both been rendered combat ineffective write offs in the field, and half their number had fallen. Both Illger and Eakova had perished- the contingent that had come up here had been reduced to a handful of dazed crewmen and support troops with naught to support.

You could have prevented this. Was this worth the cost? You couldn’t help but think that at the news. Would you even dare to mention that you knew this attack was coming? Or would you take it to your grave?

“…I have started preparations to send your Retinue back to the Archduchy…” Von Metzeler said afterwards, “She is too heavily wounded to take active part in anything. When it was only her arm, it was a tolerable state of affairs. Now that she has been beaten so badly after your trip to Perlowieza, I do not see how her continued presence here can be justified…I had to carry her out of the camp myself, with her resisting as much as she was able. She insisted to be left behind, to not delay anybody because of her state. Unacceptable, obviously…in multiple ways…” Von Metzeler met your tired eyes with a serious look, “I doubt I would be able to convince that stubborn scamp of such…and I have no right to send your retinue home. She somehow found out about the fate of those who she shared a mercenary company with…and I believe it is affecting her. Despite her unwillingness to show it. It is my opinion that she be sent away…”

>Maybe Anya was badly wounded and of no use in a battle at the moment, but she would recover. And you needed her. She wasn’t going anywhere.
>If you sent Anya away now, she’d never forgive you. Where would you even send her? Your house? She’d just do her best to get into trouble.
>Von Metzeler was right. Much as you hated to thin the ranks of your allies, it was too much to demand of your Retinue to stay under what she’d been subjected to. It was time for her to go.
>Other?

>>4277104
>>If you sent Anya away now, she’d never forgive you. Where would you even send her? Your house? She’d just do her best to get into trouble.

Tell Metzeler we understand his opinion but sending her back is basically equivalent to telling her to fuck off elsewhere. Either we let her expunge this grudge by herself by killing a bunch of Twaryians or she'll nurse it for the rest of her life.

Also other things to ask:
Any messages from the IO while we were gone? If not then we'd better immediately contact the Major once we get back
How have the Netillians reacted to last nights raid?

>>4277104
>If you sent Anya away now, she’d never forgive you. Where would you even send her? Your house? She’d just do her best to get into trouble.
Seriously fuck Gerovic. Hopefully the sacrifices and shell technology was worth it for the IO.

>>4277103
>Both Illger and Eakova had perished
It seems that the cockroach finally got crushed, what a pity.
>>4277104
>If you sent Anya away now, she’d never forgive you. Where would you even send her? Your house? She’d just do her best to get into trouble.
Let’s talk to her first, although I think she’ll be staying for the time being

>>4277104
>If you sent Anya away now, she’d never forgive you. Where would you even send her? Your house? She’d just do her best to get into trouble.
Hey tanq any losses amongst the infantry?

>>4277104
>Von Metzeler was right. Much as you hated to thin the ranks of your allies, it was too much to demand of your Retinue to stay under what she’d been subjected to. It was time for her to go.
Soon we will be alone.

>>4277104
>If you sent Anya away now, she’d never forgive you. Where would you even send her? Your house? She’d just do her best to get into trouble.
I bet Kryz also died in that ERA group we refused to help. You'll see, anons. You'll see.

Rolled 8, 5 = 13 (2d8)

>>4277120
>>4277126
>>4277139
>>4277286
Maybe she's not fighting fit now, but if you send her off now, she'll kill you when she is.

>>4277168
Send her home to populate a collection of injured women at your house. This might be concerning.

Writing.

>>4277139
>Hey tanq any losses amongst the infantry?
Yes.
Let's see how much with this roll.

>>4277386
Fug

>>4277414
That's your fault.

>>4277519
How is getting high rolls my fault ?

>>4277559
He wouldn't have rolled if you didn't ask...

>>4277573
but I wasn't the one who asked, see the trip retard

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You couldn’t send Anya away, not now. She’d never forgive you. Where would you even send her? If you tried to cast her off, even for her own good, she’d get herself into trouble in a show of stubborn defiance.

“…I understand you opinion,” you told Von Metzeler, “but to send her away now would be an insult. An insult I’m unwilling to lay upon my Retinue. If she nurses a grudge…then it would be best to let her fulfill it here and now…”

Von Metzeler narrowed his eyes slightly. “…She is your retinue...”

“…Yes. I’ll talk to her, and make sure she is alright…” You wanted to ask Von Metzeler a few other things while you shared this car. “…Have there been any messages from the Major..?”

Von Metzeler shook his head. “…No. I presume you were doing work for her in fetching Gerovic against his will..?”

“…He’ll be given to her at some point. I’ve the mind to show him around to the people he’s wronged, but we’ll see. How are the Netillian component of the company doing..?”

“…” Von Metzeler sighed, “They have a proper fear of Gerovic, if not Twaryians in general. The battle with the train and the attack on the base, and now the night attack yesterday, they’re on edge…though if you’ve captured Gerovic, they may be at ease. If word gets around of that, however, no doubt the other Netillians will be interested in taking him. Were I you, I would spread rumors that you killed him, instead…otherwise you will have captured him, and then he will have vanished…”

That was a good point. Those with you in taking Gerovic had been Ellowians, thankfully. They wouldn’t need much convincing to hide things from the Netillians. “…Were there casualties among the infantry..?”

“…Thirteen, from Second Platoon. They manned the rearguard, and were collapsed upon by the wave of armor that came when the mercenaries could delay them no longer. They escaped in the cover of darkness, but the initial attack caught many in a vulnerable position…”

It could have been worse. You nodded, leaned back- contemplated. In his last night in action, Gerovic had done a terrific amount of damage. That damage had best have been worth what the Intelligence Office would get from the man himself.

-----

The new “camp” as it was, was actually the inner section of the UGZ-09, right in the same perimeter as Maenesko’s compound. Instead of Penal troops, however, there were men of 4th platoon, and apparently, places had been rented out for the rest of the company to stay while a new camp was being hurriedly constructed at the edge of the UGZ-09 where the vehicles had been placed. You’d seen the new motor pool as you approached the entrance. Work was progressing quite quickly, with the aid of quite a few UGZ denizens working as labor. The goodwill you fostered paying off.

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Your retinue, Sergeant Anya Nowicki, was being kept in an apartment complex whose individual rooms were little more than walk in closets with beds in them, with a little lamp, though such was actually more spacious than the underground rooms that had been constructed in the old camp. The lack of possessions made the place seem more closed in than it actually was. Apparently there hadn’t been time to go and scavenge what could be rescued from the old camp yet, and Anya had but the loose white shirt she’d been dressed in since the hospital, blue shorts that were little more than sleepwear, and the sling that kept her right arm still and healing. Bandages still covered her bruised and beaten face, but there was a glare in her fierce green eyes that was new. There was an anger there, that tried to dull when you knocked and entered.

“Hey.” Anya said dully, sitting up on the edge of the bed, “You’re back, huh. Where the hell did you go?”

“…I went and got Gerovic.” you said, “I went over the border and captured him. I’m back now. I’m sorry I wasn’t here, when he attacked…”

Anya bit her lip, ground her teeth. “…Wouldn’t have changed much. He got us good.”

“…”

“…So what do you want,” Anya said roughly, eyes focused elsewhere like there was an invisible enemy in the room, “I’m just sitting in here with my thumb up my ass. Letting people get killed for me. I’d get my ass out there, but whenever I try and walk…I still can’t quite do it. I got the shit beaten out of me worse than I thought.” Anya put on an aggressive snarl for the unseen enemy she regarded away from you. ”Fuck’s sake.”

>Best not bring up anything directly if she didn’t. Say it’s been a while since you had something to drink- did she want you to bring back anything? Or could you take her somewhere?
>Tell her that you’re sorry about what happened to her old friends. Or fellow mercenaries, however it was. You’d let her have a chance at Gerovic before you passed him on.
>Comfort her. (How?)
>Other?

>>4277790
>>Comfort her. (How?)
Tell her we perfectly understand the feeling of being useless; that's basically been Richter for the entire latter half of this mission.
Also tell her that we're not sending her back so focus on recovering and she'll definitely get her chance for payback.
Lastly offer her that chance at Gerovic. He's a smug prick so you'd probably feel better afterwards.

>>4277830
>>4277790
This

>>4277790
>Best not bring up anything directly if she didn’t. Say it’s been a while since you had something to drink- did she want you to bring back anything? Or could you take her somewhere?
>Tell her that you’re sorry about what happened to her old friends. Or fellow mercenaries, however it was. You’d let her have a chance at Gerovic before you passed him on.

>>4277790
>Comfort her. (Tell her we understand how feeling useless feels and that's ok that she feels that way. Tell her we can and will get through all this shit together and that we'll always be working to become "better" for her and the rest of the crew. I would say more like Hell, but Richter isn't him and he never will be. What he can be is his own man.)

>>4277790
>>4277868
Also put a hand on her shoulder that isn't bruised to shit. Make sure Richter makes I contact too, that's important.

>>4277830
>>4277868
This. Remind her when there's life there's hope (and a chance to avenge the fallen)

>>4277790
tanq that looks really good! I mean, she looks really bad now, but you get what I mean.

>>4277830
Supporting this, just remind her we need him alive.
Plus offer to get her things she needs, at the very least pants and some more books to read. Tell her if she can't train her body yet then maybe she can train her mind.

>>4277909
Oh yeah that reminds me. Give her back her underwear. It'll probably wind her up even more for Gerovic.

>>4277790
>Best not bring up anything directly if she didn’t. Say it’s been a while since you had something to drink- did she want you to bring back anything? Or could you take her somewhere?

>>4277830
This
>>4277912
Not this. She doesn't need any more winding up.

>>4277830
>>4277912
>>4278013
>Lastly offer her that chance at Gerovic. He's a smug prick so you'd probably feel better afterwards.
can she even punch the guy with her better arm without risking injuries or just her bullet wound arm is fugged ?

>>4278027
I like this.

Im all for the comforting bits, but not for letting her have a go at Gerovic. Whats she gonna do, shoot him? She isnt exactly in the best shape to get physical with him, and her killing or wounding him while he's a prisoner is just... fucked?

There will be a time where we or our men get captured, and if Richter gets the reputation of harming prisoners then we'll only wish we hadn't.

>>4278157
This

>>4278157
Well I think the idea is that Gerovic is going to disappear into the hands of the Major and no one will know what happened to him. It sounds like we're better off telling people he was killed and we never even captured him in the first place, so I don't think we have to worry about our reputation concerning our treatment of him.

And whatever Anya does or doesn't do to him I'm sure she can manage to avoid either killing him or further hurting herself in the process. She might have a temper but she's not a raging barbarian. She'll probably just hit him enough to wipe the smug grin off his face and then tire herself out. As far as morality goes his level of smugness is probably enough to be considered an act of violence so I think her hitting him can be excused as self defense.

I return.

>>4277830
>>4277834
>>4277892
>>4277909
>>4278013
Useless puff, you will rise again. Punch a slone?
>>4277868
Same vein I think but rolling to not hoverhand.

>>4277929
>>4277851
Get her drunk. Again.

>>4277912
Don't ask me how I got these. Again.

>>4278013
Avoid death.

>>4278157
>>4278205
Don't let her at Gerovic.

Writing.

She was holding herself together admirably, but Anya couldn’t hide how angry she was- how frustrated she was, not for misfortune, but for how little she could do about it. That feeling of powerlessness was well familiar to you at this point. You sat next to her on the bed slowly, which finally got her eyes off an invisible enemy, a sideways, confused, half lidded stare as you reached an arm around her and rested it on her shoulder.

“…I’m fine,” Anya said as though insisting to herself, “I don’t need that. I appreciate the thought, but I’m fine.”

Yet your hand wasn’t pushed off. “…I understand the feeling of being useless. I’ve felt that way since I’ve come back here…”

“You say that, and come back with Gerovic.”

“…I didn’t really do much. I had a lot of help. I need help to do anything, it feels like. Help like I need from you…which is why I want to keep you around, why I want you to recover. We’ll both make it…even if I’m useless, I’ll keep working to be better again. I want you to do the same, instead of beating yourself up…it’s alright to have to rest a while…”

Anya didn’t say anything at first, but gestured with her left hand. “That retard speech is getting on my nerves. Fix that, alright? Does that way you did before still work?”

…Well, she requested it, not you. You carried your other arm around her, and slipped her into a loose, careful embrace. “…If you want, before I have the Archduchy come and pick him up, you can get a few slugs in on Gerovic. They won’t care if he arrives with some punishment.”

“…Nah.” Anya settled further into your arms, tensed less. “It wouldn’t count. I wanted to beat him, not kick him while he’s down. That’s not the way I do things. I said I’d be fine, alright?” You kept her close, still, for those few moments of silence. “…It’s not like I wasn’t ready for it. Illger’s died before. Twice, even. I’ve lost people. That’s not new. I’m sad about it, but that’s what being a Hog is. If it’s somebody’s time, you saw Death coming a long ways away, and at least chose the way you went out. But…” she tensed up again, “I should have been there. I don’t care if it would have killed me, I just wouldn’t have been...wouldn’t be…” Anya trailed off, and didn’t finish whatever she was saying.

“I wouldn’t have wanted you to be killed.”

Anya didn’t say anything to that.

“…I can get some things for you, if you want. More books, maybe, trousers…since it’s cold, and all.” You suggested.

“They didn’t wreck the camp completely, I hear. We haven’t picked through yet, but all my clothes were back there. If you can go get those, I’d appreciate that. At least get that uniform back on.” Anya’s voice was sullen, but less on the edge than it had been before you were holding her. You did have one article of her spare clothing on your person…but you didn’t want to work Anya up again. “…I guess I won’t complain about having more to do. Making the time go by until my stupid body fixes itself.”

“Alright,” you started to loosen your grip, “Then I’ll go and-“

“Wait.” Anya said firmly, and grabbed your arm. You obeyed- and you sat there with your arms around Anya for a few more minutes. “…Alright, get the hell outta here,” Anya shoved you, and you let her go. “If you stay here any longer I’ll heal up and kick your ass out of my room yourself.”

“I’d like to see you try,” you shot back evenly as you left. “Don’t hurt yourself too quickly after you get well again…”

“Hey.” Anya coughed as you were midway out. “You too.”

“…Mm…” you nodded, and shut the door after you.

-----

Gerovic was kept under heavy guard by you and your crew in a bare, concrete room in Maenesko’s headquarters compound- you’d rather have reunited with your men by going to a tavern, or at least being able to talk freely, but you weren’t going to give Gerovic anything, not even conversations to listen to. You had told Malachi and Jorgen to break his legs if he tried anything, despite being tied to a chair- such was all you allowed Gerovic to hear, until the Major received news of his presence here. You expected her to come without even being called, considering the gravity of the situation, as she might put it, and that her agents would inform that it had been done, but you had asked Von Metzeler to get her anyways.

Less time than you expected- and here she was. Long, black hair, taller than anybody else on the heels she wore, dressed in an black wool long coat sunglasses over her eyes, accompanied by a pair of Intelligence Office agents so burly and hard bodied they made Jorgen look ordinary, each carrying a heavy attaché case. You sent your crew out, and the Major and her escort stepped in, one closing the steel door behind them.

Gerovic, for his part, had a look that showed he was positively entertained. Well, you’ll see about how long he can keep up the smug act.

The Major stepped forward, and gestured to her thugs, who removed Gerovic’s gag.

“My, oh, my,” Gerovic purred with faux admiration, “And just who is this fine specimen? If you’re an admirer of mine, I have to say, I’d have accepted an invitation to your bedroom just fine, and we could have skipped all this nonsense with abductions.”

“Every further smart remark you make, I will have my men here pull out one of your teeth.” The Major responded, cool as ice, “You have only been ungagged to answer very particular questions here. Save your banter for when I am through with you.” The two other agents opened their briefcases, and took out heavy duty restraining belts, and what looked like some odd mask-apparatus. Hypodermic needles and vials of various substances were also produced.

Gerovic’s humored look still didn’t fade, though it must have been false bravado, as leather straps were bound about his head and an agent affixed a device that kept an eye wide open, the other agent preparing an injection needle.

“Congratulations, Von Tracht,” the Major said to you with a slight turn of her head, “I didn’t expect you to take him alive. Leave this room and wait in the meeting room across the way. We’ll talk soon.”

The IO spooks were certainly not waiting for you to leave to start working, so you certainly did speed along. Immediately outside the door you saw a pair of Netillian troops flanking the way- but you didn’t even have to think about it to know that they were simple further Intelligence Office goons, guarding over whatever was going to happen in that room.

-----

The Major came in alone, after only about half an hour. You hadn’t even finished the newspapers that had been left in the room.

“…That didn’t take very long…” you observed blithely.

“Not much had to be done. The most pertinent queries take little time to answer, and anything further can wait until he is safe and secure in the Archduchy.” The Major didn’t sit down, and paced beside you, putting her hand on the table in front of where you were seated. “Now then. As agreed, you’ll have help for your idiotic duel with an infamous sniper. I have no doubt I will lose valuable operatives, but you’ve managed to provide me some reason to owe you.”

A sarcastic sulk from you. “…I’m sorry that such a horrible thing has been inflicted upon you, how can I ever apologize…”

“The details of how you’ll be kept intact will come when we next meet, tomorrow.” The Major told you, “Though. You took Gerovic alive. Much as such was not required, in case you were unable to capture him, and we were given a choice between having him dead or letting him continue to wreak havoc, you are allowed a further reward, for such an effort.”

“…Further reward..?”

“A small one.” The Major specified, “Beyond previously promised aid, but nothing so drastic as, say, cancelling your assignments, or withdrawing legal proceedings against your character, hm?”

So you couldn’t ask the Intelligence Office to go away and leave you alone after this. Of course not. What could you ask for, though…

>Demand the copy of the Opal magazine. You knew the Major had it, you needed it.
>You wanted the answers to particular questions. (Not too many. Careful not to overstep the bounds of being in some semblance of good graces)
>Request a further in, to the Intelligence Office. If they wouldn’t leave you alone, maybe they could at least treat you less like a dog. Maybe you’d like to call yourself by your rank and no other name.
>A reward, from the Intelligence Office? Turn your nose up at that. They could keep their "rewards," you refused to be thrown any dog treats.
>Other?

>>4279804
Hey tanq what does the third option mean?

>>4279833
It means asking if you can go further up the glow in the dark ladder.

>>4279804
>>Request a further in, to the Intelligence Office. If they wouldn’t leave you alone, maybe they could at least treat you less like a dog. Maybe you’d like to call yourself by your rank and no other name.
I think this might actually be the most valuable thing we can ask for. If we can't shake the IO any time soon our safest bet is to at least become someone whose life they'll be slightly less likely to throw away on semi-suicide missions.

>>4279839
Ah alright.
>Request a further in, to the Intelligence Office. If they wouldn’t leave you alone, maybe they could at least treat you less like a dog. Maybe you’d like to call yourself by your rank and no other name.

Also more general question:
Now that Gerovic is finally dealt with how soon can our guys be pulled off the line? All our men could use a good block of R&R before Alpha Two kicks off.

>>4279804
>Request a further in, to the Intelligence Office. If they wouldn’t leave you alone, maybe they could at least treat you less like a dog. Maybe you’d like to call yourself by your rank and no other name.
btw what is the opal magazine ?

>>4279873
+1

>>4279804
Didn't these guys orchestrate Maddy's kidnapping or something to start the whole Sosaldt misadventure? I'm not sure we want to be in bed with them more.

>>4279917
I don't think anyone isn't aware that the IO is shady as hell but as >>4279873 points out if they're not letting us out of their grasp any time soon we must as well get better treatment for ourselves.

>>4279873
This

>>4279804
>Other?
Ask for a direct line to Maddalyn.
I'm fucking sick of having to deal with these local mayors to talk to her and the time between letters is far to long for my taste anyway.
I don't care about the details of how such a thing would work, a means of quick and efficient access to her will do wonders for Richter's moral. He deserves the ability to talk to his wife damn it!

>>4279804
Tempting as it is to tell them to go fuck themselves, we have to at least pretend we're not going to be a future problem.
>Request a further in, to the Intelligence Office. If they wouldn’t leave you alone, maybe they could at least treat you less like a dog. Maybe you’d like to call yourself by your rank and no other name.

Probably just call him piggy or monkey instead. It's a start at least.

Plus more visibility into their whole operation, less likelihood of getting quietly disposed of, and gathering more info for Richter's dad to investigate.

I was initially thinking to have the IO let Von Metzeler and his crew go, but I think even they will realize that sending a one armed man on stealth missions is counterproductive.

>an eye wide open, the other agent preparing an injection needle.
Oh shit are they gonna hypnotize him into a double agent eventually?

>>4279804
This: >>4279966

For the people who think getting closer with IO is good: the more in we are, the less safe we are, until we get at the very top and our status starts to outweigh all the dangerous things we know.

>>4279804
>>4279966
This is probably our best bet. They will use this as a means to spy on us and we'd need a way to communicate that to her without tipping them off so she doesn't spill any magic related beans, but it will be worth it to be able to talk to her. Besides didn't we promise her we'd try not to stay so throughly involved with their future schemes when she came to visit?

>>4279966
I'm with this guy

>>4279804
>>Request a further in, to the Intelligence Office. If they wouldn’t leave you alone, maybe they could at least treat you less like a dog. Maybe you’d like to call yourself by your rank and no other name.

>>4279804
>>Request a further in, to the Intelligence Office.

Might as well post before bed

It wasn't so long ago that I watched anons vote to kill the protagonist in another quest. There, at least, the consequences were immediate.

>>4280892
Anon if they wanted to the IO could disappear us at any time already, knowledge be damned.

>>4280897
The point is not to give them a reason to want that.

>>4280900
And as long as we're doing stuff for them they won't.

>>4280905
Secret agents being disposed of after an operation is a common trope.

>>4279804
>Request a further in, to the Intelligence Office. If they wouldn’t leave you alone, maybe they could at least treat you less like a dog. Maybe you’d like to call yourself by your rank and no other name.

>>4280912
I don't see how that's any more of a risk from our current situation. We've already been doing operations for them, and as a completely low level expendable tool. All we're asking now is for them to make us a more valuable asset so they'll have less reason to get rid of us. The Major already showed more concern for the safety of the operatives in Dymny than she's ever shown for us; if we can get closer to their level then I don't see how that could put us in more danger of being disposed of.

>>4279873
>>4279887
>>4279903
>>4279909
>>4279956
>>4280022
>>4280788
>>4280887
>>4281063
Let me into your secret club mommy

>>4279966
>>4280733
>>4280687
>>4280737
I need delivery boys to carry my dirty letters to the runt house. Or a very, very long telephone cable specially for me.

Writing.

>>4280022
>Oh shit are they gonna hypnotize him into a double agent eventually?
They're certainly not just giving him a hit of smack, that's for sure.

>>4279903
>btw what is the opal magazine ?
A controversial magazine that refers to its contents as artistic nudity, but which others scoff at as pornography, whose pages have pictures of young and fetching noblewomen in various states of undress. There's a sort of prestige to both being in it, in a way- and in having a subscription in the first place. Only patrons able to afford the lofty money barrier (or have a prestigious enough title) get copies of the magazine, and they're very, very limited print because of this exclusivity, though like anything exclusive, a few can't help but leak out- usually for a hefty sum of money.
A notable model in an issue some twenty three years back was your fiancee's mother, Lady Miriam Von Blum.

>>4281459
>some twenty three years back
About twenty five years, rather. Important correction.

The initial thought was to guarantee your communications with Maddalyn- ever since Gespie was ousted from his mayoral position, you lacked any way to send letters to her, and had never been able to receive any back from home, from anybody. Ending that isolation couldn’t have been too much to ask, but as you thought more on it…maybe you should better insure yourself against the Intelligence Office? By shrouding yourself in its favor? Surely a request to advance within their rank was far from unreasonable, considering what you’d done for them, regardless of how much you actually wanted to do it. You didn’t trust them- they had used and abused you, and your fiancée, but this would be a move to protect yourself, not to ingratiate yourself.

“…Can I ask for a promotion? Within the IO, that is. To be the next tier up from Hound R, or whatever…”

That made the Major raise an eyebrow. “That isn’t what I would have expected from you, but yes. Provided you endure this assignment. Though, I’m sure you understand that such would mean you would be expected to continue to accept assignments that are out of the ordinary.”

“…Would I really have a choice not to..?”

“You might,” A clipped response, but for once not a patronizing one. “You are sure that that’s what you want?” A steady nod from you. “We’ll see about that, then.”
“…So would I be called the Lieutenant, like you’re called the Major..?”

“No.”

“…Oh. Then…I’ve one more question. Since you have Gerovic now, the biggest problem to reveal himself here, how soon can my men and I be pulled off the line here? To at least have some rest before Alpha Two…”

“There has been no change in plans regarding your stay here,” the Major said in a clipped tone, “You have approximately two more weeks until you are expected to be withdrawn. Likely a few days beyond that, depending on how events transpire. If you want to take pressure off yourself, I would suggest requesting a replacement commanding officer for your company. I’ve heard you and your people have taken over administration of the unit entirely, and while I’m sure the Military Council appreciates the weight off their shoulders, as a coordinator and advisor you have no obligation to assume total command.”

A sigh from yourself at that. “…Nothing else, then. I suppose I’ll content myself with an accelerated career advancement…”

“You do that.” The Major went for the door, “Though I wonder if you are prepared to die, for any further advancement.”

“…Die?”

“It isn’t as demanding as you might think,” the Major said without actually explaining, “I’ve died before, to get here.” A pause. “Redo your hair as soon as you can. Blonde looks atrocious on you.” Before you could think to ask what she meant by that, the Major had left you, alone in that meeting room. When you left the room, the guards across the way were gone, and the room where Gerovic was, utterly empty.

-----

Unfortunately, you couldn’t join back with your crew with good news that your stay here would be shortened, but it was nice to be back with them again. The time you’d been hit in the attack on the base, they hadn’t been in the tank. It hadn’t been one of them who had been killed under your command. You were still thankful to Anya for unintentionally saving them, by taking them elsewhere at that time.

“You done dealing with scary folks, boss?” Hans asked, looking side to side. Your crew knew who you were doing this for, even if most of the details escaped them. You nodded. “Great!” Hans relaxed, and so did everybody except your tall, blonde gunner. “So you gonna keep that dye job? I think Creampuff likes blonde guys, you know.”

“…I don’t know about that…”

“I don’t know if like is the right term either,” Stein said, sore about something.

“Maybe his runt likes it, eh?” Hans elbowed you, “What d’you two think,” he addressed Malachi and Jorgen, “yay or nay on that hue?”

“Lahkshett.” Malachi said without hesitation.

“Aehh, shedduhp,” Jorgen punched Malachi’s shoulder, “Yehd mehkkem go graehn, bet.”

“Leterrwaekol, nogouden feht, derkerstinetuh.”

“I’m not dyeing my hair,” Stein said grumpily.

“You should know better than to get into an argument with Mal, he’ll outlast you,” Hans chuckled, “So, boss, you gonna stick around with us a little bit? Gerovic’s gotten grabbed, and he ain’t gonna be our problem anymore, y’think we can just sit around and do nothing now? Especially how you’re hobbling around, and how half our tanks went up in smoke. Call me yellow, but I’m fine with not doing any more fighting for more fuckin’ pepperheads at the minute.”

That wasn’t necessarily an option, what with you offering the Grandmaster aid in a potential large attack against the Twaryians. Granted, you weren’t compelled to fulfill that deal, considering that the aid he’d offered hadn’t actually been used, but you didn’t doubt that the ERA would insist on it anyways. There was also the matter of Bertram in…Judge Above, would you just bite the bullet and try to get the IO’s help and take him on in the same day, or would you come to him on the deadline day? You knew where he wanted to duel you- but you had avoided more than that. No doubt looking around it or sending anybody to look around would be interpreted as a formal opening of hostilities.

…Well, most people. Emma would be looking around up there, and Bertram couldn’t have thought that Emma was affiliated with you. Additionally, he had no way to destroy her. Emma hadn’t gone through with helping the Archduchy, but she had agreed to help protect your life in this affair. You hoped she’d report back soon…hopefully far away from Yva. The soulbinder would no doubt no longer tolerate Emma’s existence given her evolution from harmless wisp to full on apparition.

At least Gerovic was no longer a problem. Just everything else.

You had spaced out while your crew kept talking. Attention was paid again right as Stein was talking about bars. “-not any here that would be any good. They don’t like serving to people besides their own. Kamienisty’s not too much further from here than it was from the old camp, is it?”

“Wonder if we could get a date to Perlowieza like the boss took Fluffy on, huh?” Hans put you on the spot, “No, we see how it is. Special treatment for the girl, of course.”

“Dehnwantrenk,” Malachi said plainly, “Gonzlep.”

“Suit yourself.” Hans sniffed. “So how about it boss? We take a load off somewhere now that our troubles took a long walk off a short pier? Your treat, of course.”

>Could you turn that down? Sure, you’ll take your men out. (Where? What sort of place?)
>You couldn’t, unfortunately. They could go, but you had to handle business. (Of what sort?)
>The only place you were going now was a bunk. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
>Other?

>>4281749
>The only place you were going now was a bunk. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

>>4281749
>>Could you turn that down? Sure, you’ll take your men out. (Where? What sort of place?)
Is Perlowieza too far for an overnight trip? I'm thinking we might go there or Kamienisty and scope out a decent hotel that we could post everyone up in to get some R&R for a few days if we take the Major's advice. Maybe Krause could stay behind to orient and advise the new company commander in our place, since I think he's the least beat up of anyone. We also need to find a place to get this dye out of our hair.

>>4281749
>>Could you turn that down? Sure, you’ll take your men out. (Where? What sort of place?)
Kamiensty; Iet's avoid Perlowieza for now given what happened our last trip. Find some restaurant/bar to celebrate. Potentially find a hotel like >>4281790 suggests.

>>4281747
Aw crap they want us to go full Secret Agent 007 if we really want to make it anywhere.

>>4281790
This works.
At some point before we talk with Major about Bertram tomorrow we should at least coordinate with Von Metzeler and Krause about our withdrawal timetable and securing the sector even if Gerovic isn't around to stir up the pot.

Also I don't think we should get another Captain, leaving this sector unstable at our departure would work best for Alpha Two. Let's just offload some paperwork on the Platoon Lieutenants.

>>4281790
>>4281790
These work. Since we're meeting the Major tomorrow anyway we can stay overnight in town?

>>4281783
Collapse.

>>4281790
>>4281825
>>4281851
>>4281881
Overnighter at Kamienisty, see the Major in the morning. Dump any and all responsibility on your other officers.
Anya might have asked you to do something for her. But you're going to be dead in a couple days anyways, right?

Writing.

>>4282047
I guess we can always stop by the old camp on the way back tomorrow.

>>4281747
>Though I wonder if you are prepared to die
Ah. So we'll have to stage our death to advance in IO. Goodbye family life with Maddalyn.
I hope you're happy with your choice, anons.

“…How could I turn that down?” you replied to that earnest request, “We’ll go to Kamienisty. We’ll even stay the whole night over. I just have to clear things up with the other officers, to get some things moving…”

“Yeah, yeah! Boss’s gonna foot the bill!” Hans practically cheered, and you pointedly noted that your wallet seemed to be the real star, “There’s a schnitzel place there that I heard some of the pepperhead fellas talking about, we’ve gotta hit that up. Then we can get Mal blitzed and rip off his dumb mask.”

“Allkyeckyoress.”

“I know you would. We could get the Yaegir wasted too, take bets on which one of you two’ll kill somebody first, eh?”

“…I’ll call a car…” you said, but Jorgen held up his finger and clicked his tongue.

“Tehk th’ traeck, dehn’t wehnt touweyt, eh?”

“…Huh..?”

“We’ll drive a truck out there.” Hans told you, “One of those Twaryian ones we took. It’s got a few guns on it, goes off road real well, too. All the marking’s been brushed off, we won’t get shot.”

“Well stocked with ammunition, too,” Stein commented.

“…Will that matter..?”

“It’s the Border Zone,” Stein shrugged absently.

“We’ll be in the motor pool, we stuffed them with the tanks when we got out,” Hans was already leaving, “Get your shit done quick, or we’re going without you.”

“…I wonder how I’ll pay if I’m not there…”

“We’ll open a tab!” Hans declared as he led the crew away, “Now hurry up!”

-----

Krause was who you left in charge- it was he who you still found in charge, looking tired but not low in spirits.

“Hey, Lieutenant,’ Krause gave a lazy salute, “Good to have you back. Sorry about your tanks, I tried to get everybody I could out as fast as I could. At least Gerovic’ll never bother us again.” Krause took out a pair of cigarettes, “Smoke?” You shook your head. “Alright,” He put one away and lit the other one, “Shame about the mercenaries. I remember one of their bosses from Todesfelsen. If they didn’t go out and hold the line, they’d have caught us with our pants around our ankles and our butts in the wind.”

“…Mmhm. I talked to Anya about it. I think she’ll be alright…”

“She was really pissed that night. I had Rondo go and get her, she was spitting some real fire when she was getting hauled over his shoulder. She wanted to stay back real bad.”

“…I’ll have to thank Von Metzeler for getting her out, even if that wasn’t what she wanted…Where is he, right now..?”

“Getting his glasses girl settled,” Krause breathed out smoke slowly, “I think he ought to just skip all the pussyfooting about and shag her. Platonically. We don’t live forever, you know? Some of us don’t figure that out ‘til we almost die, though.” He shook his head with a laugh, “He’s too straight edged for his own good.” Krause chuckled to himself softly, “He says sometimes I’m a bad influence for him, but I wonder, if he’s so uptight because that’s the way he is, or if he’s just trying to be the opposite of his family. But, he’s still how he was, even though all his memory fell out his ears.”

“…That’s reassuring…” Your memory hadn’t vanished- just your skills. Were those as much a part of you as Von Metzeler’s remembrances?
Krause gave a look to your side, “What’s that black string?” He reached out and pulled Anya’s panties out of your pocket, as though he already knew what it was, before you could react. He gave you a dull eyed look. “So you went and talked to her, and now you’ve got these? I was a young vandal, a pickpocket, and even now I appropriate things I ought not to, but you’re just incorrigible.”

“…That’s not-“

“I know, I know,” Krause tossed Aya’s underwear neatly on top of your head, where they landed perfectly to rest without slipping. “Just saying that you can’t blame anybody for the gossip.”

“…Gerovic had them, from the camp after you fled, I think,” you said as you put away Anya’s underwear again, “I’ll give them back at a more appropriate time.” That reminded you. “Can you take some people back there and get her things? They didn’t set the tunnels on fire, and she moved down under…she wanted her clothes bag, at least. Her uniform.”

“And her underwear?”

“…Har har. I also need you to drop a few boxes of food and water in…you know the woods, about, eh, and eh?” you approximated with your hands, “There’s some…refugees, there, that’ll find it. Anya wanted me to handle that, but I’m about to take my men out to town. Can you handle these things..?”

“Normally, I’d tell you to run errands for your mistress yourself, but since I’m the only one around here without a piece blown out of me,” Krause slapped you on the back, “Go ahead. Careful, though. Gerovic might be gone, but that attack disrupted patrols, and there’s a whole bunch of new Revolutionary League insurgents running about.”

“…Thanks…really…”

“One of us here has to not be a crazy blue blood,” Krause lit up another cigarette, “Don’t keep out for too long, yeah? It didn’t take long for people to come here asking questions I didn’t know the answer to.”

You avoided telling Krause you didn’t intend to come back until tomorrow.

-----

“…So even though there’s all sorts of people who want to kill you, and you’ve got to keep your head in the game,” Stein said wearily, a few mugs of beer down him, his second double-fried schnitzel with sweet mustard, potato, and pickled cabbage plate only half finished, “You look over and see her cute butt right there…Hans says she has some mass to it, and you just wanna,” Stein made a slapping motion at the air, “…you know?”

“Yeah, the boss knows,” Hans wrapped his arm around your shoulder, “So whose is better, eh? I know you’ve grabbed both, B-G, heh heh. Dog.”
The drive over here had been uninterrupted- the combat car must have bristled with enough guns that no insurgents thought you worth having a go at. Jorgen lamented such after you’d arrived at your destination. The combat car was parked outside this place- probably illegally, but you’d fix it when somebody made it a problem, you figured.

A long drink to Hans’s question. “…Maddy’s is unparalleled.” You declared. It wasn't like you remembered anything to the contrary.

“Uh huh. Sure, alright,” Hans took his arm off of you, “How about the rack?” A roll of your eyes. “Fine, if you don’t want to shoot the shit, I’ll come back later. Hey, Stein! Let’s get some billiards goin’, yeah? The Yaegir’s already over there.”

You were left alone with Malachi, and there was a moment of quiet as you thought of what to say. “…So…where in the mountains did you come from?” you asked, “Altoss? The Sosalian Spine? The Nauk Range?”

“Naert.” Malachi quipped.

“North. Alright.” A moment. “Do you miss it?”

“Neh.” You saw a rare moment where Malachi shifted his masking up slightly- a rock-square wide jaw and stubble was briefly visible as he chugged down a whole tall mug of dark ale, before letting it fall naturally again. “Boosbeder, thobeshesarshed. Can geder, besemful. Onerfeng.”
“Hmm.” You thought you got some of that. “So why don’t you show people your face?”

“Onerfeng.”

“Same reason?” you squinted at Malachi, trying to find his eyes behind the lenses of his goggles. The glare of light shifted for a moment, and you saw them- they were large, but heavily lidded, tired. “Sorry about that, then.”

“Neh. Lahntehmnehmeder.”

“You must miss one thing, at least,” you said to Malachi, getting on this track, “I’ve been away from my home for…years. It’s funny, Hilda will know it better than I do when I get back. But, even though it’s near Strosstadt, the air isn’t smoky, and it’s not so far from some nice woods, artificial lakes and ponds…some general or noble made them, I can’t remember who, but he wanted to make a place of beauty, since he came over from seeing an Emrean park, where they were trying to restore a place of natural beauty that was destroyed by the long war…war hasn’t touched the heart of Strossvald in a long time, but…it’s a nice place to be.”

“Hrm.” Malachi grunted, “Affing. Nobeis?”

“Nobes..?”

“Beis. Bzz bzz.”

“Oh. Bees, right.”

“Naertpakes, beisdoney. Onei. Spealraekbeis, weld.” Malachi was trying his best to make sure you understood- far more than he usually did. “Oneisweider naefen. Bessef, haerdafen lehkald. Hehdweise, waenaferd.”

You weren’t sure if you understood even half of that, but it still felt fulfilling to hear.

“Eeyboss,” Jorgen suddenly lumbered up behind you, and slammed a full mug of…something, in front of you. “Drehnk, drehnk!”

“What…what is this?” you couldn’t help but ask, but Malachi must have known, as he joined in on the encouragement, and neither he nor Jorgen provided any explanation beyond something that sounded like that if you didn’t drink it, you were a woman.

…Well, you couldn’t have that, could you? Down the hatch.

…

…

>Those Penal Battalion guys are giving you funny looks…
>Time to take that combat car out for a night stress test,
>You’re short on tanks. Edelschwert had plenty you could borrow, right?
>Other? (You can’t choose to not have an intoxicated misadventure)

>>4282352
>>Those Penal Battalion guys are giving you funny looks…

>>4282352
>Time to take that combat car out for a night stress test,
Let's not get into combat and get even more fucked to fight Bertram, so I'm willing to maybe just fuck the car

>>4282336
Oh don't be like that. It was a shitty choice and we're now entrenched with an organization we want nothing to do with but who knows, maybe it won't be that bad. What's his face said he was happily married, if we're lucky we'll end up like him rather than the Major or Owl 3.

>>4282352
>Time to take that combat car out for a night stress test.
Donuts with the lads.

File: Ha Ha Ha Ha . . . ..png (198 KB, 480x360)

198 KB PNG

>>4282352
>Those Penal Battalion guys are giving you funny looks…
Must still be pissy we took their Base away from them.

>>4282352
>Time to take that combat car out for a night stress test.
>>4282382
Also IMO from the way she put it we don't actually have to do any of the unconventional stuff just that if we want to advance.

>>4282352
>Time to take that combat car out for a night stress test

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349 KB JPG

>>4282352
>>Time to take that combat car out for a night stress test,
haha..oh

>>4282382
>What's his face said he was happily married
If you noticed, he was far away from his family, risking his life all the time.

>>4282352
>Time to take that combat car out for a night stress test
Drive it like you stole it. Also, little bonus for all our tanks blowing up, there’s less potential repairs that field shop we lost could have done, which means it’s more ok that we lost it. That’s how that works right?

>>4282352
>Those Penal Battalion guys are giving you funny looks…

>>4282361
>>4282390
>>4282947
Get into a fight with political criminals. Maybe there are some anarchists in their lot, utopianists, republicans!

>>4282377
>>4282382
>>4282391
>>4282397
>>4282423
>>4282729
Is driving while intoxicated illegal in Netilland? Who cares, you probably broke plenty of laws already. Victory laps, go!

Writing.

“…I don’t feel so good…” you said, as you stumbled out after your crew, “What was in that?”

“So here’s the deal,” Hans told you all, “Jorgen here told me he heard of this Salt Bog Brew that the Twaryians make, from both the mercs and the Ellowians. It’s either amazing, or it’s goddamn rancid, but the point is, we need that, now. Fuck, we needed it yesterday. The Twaryians have got to have some of it, so we’re gonna go get some.”

Back over the border? You just got back, but you were trying to fight something in your head, so you just got into the car. “Mal, what was in that stuff?” you repeated, as your masked driver took up his position behind the wheel.

“Why, it was the Nectar of the Peaks,” Malachi said in perfect, smooth New Nauk, “I hope you are ready for a magnificent journey.”

“…What?”

“Do not shoot the demons until I say so.”

“What?”

“Mallemmeevroo,” Hans said in some garbled approximation of speech.

“What?” you insisted, unease growing.

“Of course you cannot drive, Hans. You’re too intoxicated.” Malachi said, throwing you off once more.

“Yahruntahk.” Stein gargled.

“Of course, but even drunk, I am still five times the driver you will ever be.” Malachi started the engine, and revved the deep, heavy rumble of the engine. “Place in the top three of the Gold Line and we’ll see if you get to drive.”

VRRROOOORRGH, the engine came fully to life, and after an entirely too quick check to see if you were all aboard, you driver reversed the vehicle in a skidding half circle. Clunk, clenk-clunk, Malachi shifted the gears noisily, and ignored the angry protests of Netillians that had to dive out of the way as you tore out of Kamienisty.

“Is this thing supposed to go this fast?” you shakily asked Malachi as the other seats began to laugh uproarishly.

“No.”

“…Ah…” The roaring of the engine started to mix with something else, as shapes began to dance in the sky…then in the snow. Familiar spirits, gradually twisting into long shadows and reaching arms. “M-Mal-“ you shakily said, before coiling arms of blood red shadows whipped their way towards you. “Aaaaugh!” you cried and covered your face.

“Eyh, kommandestweakout!” Jorgen laughed “Wooh!”

“Waaaauugh!” you shouted up at them, and blasted away with the machine gun. Bits of crab rained down, but the gun went dry, and you were engulfed soon after. The other gun! You had to keep shooting! You struggled to the other side, to the other machine gun, which might still have ammo in it…thank the Judge’s mercy that it did, as you resumed firing into a mass that engulfed you, but hell if you’d go down without a fight!

“Moeferbehss!” Hans shoved you as the second gun clicked empty, and the devil crabs ceased pounding down. Something rattled in his grip- something glass?

“Noddasuf, lesryoferace!” Jorgen shouted as he leaped on back.

“What?!” you shouted back, breathless.

“We haven’t found the salt bog booze, we’re trying another place,” Malachi slid back in the seat next to you, “We scared the people at this place off with all the screaming and shooting, we’ll just have to do that at the next place, too.”

“The next place!?” you objected, losing your voice, “Why are we staying in…in Demon World? We need to get back to anywhere but here!”

“Not until we get the bog booze!” Malachi declared, and once again the truck roared and you were off, into Demon Land.

-----

…Ugh…

You stretched yourself out in the pile you’d found yourself in. Where were you? What was over your eye instead of an eyepatch, and who…who was this that you had been holding in your sleep? Why did you hurt in places?

“Morning, commander,” Stein told you as he walked over, responding to your confused grunts, “How are you feeling?”

“…What…where am I…?” you started, “…What is this,” you pointed to the new covering over your eye, “And who…who is this?” You scrambled up and snapped your head about in all directions, “Where are the demons? What happened to the…” you cooled down as you realized you were acting insane. “…Ahem…”

“We’re back in Kamienisty,” Stein told you, “We set up…I guess it’s a camp, in an alley here,” he pointed about where indeed a makeshift shelter had been set, the combat car at one end of it. “You lost your eyepatch when we ran into that tank. So we-“

“…Tank?” you interrupted Stein, “When..?”

Stein shrugged. “I don’t know, commander, you were the highest I’ve ever seen anybody that whole time. All we could find that was suitable was that pair of women’s underwear you had in your pocket. Figured it was good enough until we found another thing.”

Don't mind me just consistently goofing formatting.

“They’re only demons, Commander,” Malachi admonished you, like that was supposed to help.

”GAAAAAAUUUGGH!!” The Demons screamed back. ”BRAAAUGHHHHH!!”

“Aaaauggh!” you agreed with them loudly.

“Hans says you are killing the mood.” Malachi said dully.

“W-when can I shoot the demons?!” you were shaking uncontrollably as bellowing shapes erupted from the ground and the air, sparkling lights hanging in the ground and bursting asunder. “Judge above!”

“Have some patience, for goodness’ sakes. Yjen’s embrace won’t hold unless you accept the darkness!”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean!?” you snapped as a phantom flowed out of your eyes, “AAAUUGGHH!” That wasn’t for the phantom, but for the land turning to water and the truck sinking into the snow, then the tunnel about you tossing up and about like snow in a snow globe, before swirling with the night and sunset tones cast on the ground.

“Heeua, weflen!” Hans cackled on the other side of you.

“What?” you stammered as the truck fell through the abyss before rolling over stars and back up into a cloud, “What’d you say?”

“We’re flying,” Malachi told you.

“Dehllsen, yuearinim?” Stein demanded from the automatic cannon position in back.

The Border Zone was a warped parody of a fusion between it and a place that didn’t exist for a long while, but at least the demons stayed far away.
Eventually, Malachi gunned the engine again, and shouted, “Here come the demons, Commander!”

“Where the hell are we!?” you demanded- as far as you could tell you were halfway up the night sky.

“Werruwuannabeboss!” Hans told you in a loud voice over the throttle of the heavy engine, “Werreuwannabe!”

“Derrahr!” Stein shouted and pointed ahead, to a pack of horrifyingly colossal demons that had risen out of the blackness below.

“Shoot them, commander!” Malachi ordered you, and you had no trouble obeying.

“Aaaaauuggh!!”

While screaming.

“Ferren!” Stein shouted, and the cannon made its declaration. PAHM-PAHM-PAHM-PAHM-PAHM. CLUNK.

The cannon blew chunks off the massive demons, while the machine gun fire from you and Hans prickled them full of tiny holes, but the amorphous creatures continued their implacable charge for the truck.

“W-we have to turn around!” You shouted at Malachi.

The mountain man ignored you. Instead, he accelerated, and the demons grew so large you saw naught but black, until the truck rammed straight through one, and you burst through to a pure white plain, sparkling flakes blowing up all about. Malachi span the car about in place, and you slid to what might have been a stop, if you weren’t still falling down afterwards.

“Keep shooting, Commander!” Malachi shouted at you.

“Leggestoof!” Jorgen bellowed from behind as you were left behind in the car, a swarm of scuttling crustaceans made of red ribbons surging up from the sky.

“Waaaauugh!” you shouted up at them, and blasted away with the machine gun. Bits of crab rained down, but the gun went dry, and you were engulfed soon after. The other gun! You had to keep shooting! You struggled to the other side, to the other machine gun, which might still have ammo in it…thank the Judge’s mercy that it did, as you resumed firing into a mass that engulfed you, but hell if you’d go down without a fight!

“Moeferbehss!” Hans shoved you as the second gun clicked empty, and the devil crabs ceased pounding down. Something rattled in his grip- something glass?

“Noddasuf, lesryoferace!” Jorgen shouted as he leaped on back.

“What?!” you shouted back, breathless.

“We haven’t found the salt bog booze, we’re trying another place,” Malachi slid back in the seat next to you, “We scared the people at this place off with all the screaming and shooting, we’ll just have to do that at the next place, too.”

“The next place!?” you objected, losing your voice, “Why are we staying in…in Demon World? We need to get back to anywhere but here!”

“Not until we get the bog booze!” Malachi declared, and once again the truck roared and you were off, into Demon Land.

-----

…Ugh…

You stretched yourself out in the pile you’d found yourself in. Where were you? What was over your eye instead of an eyepatch, and who…who was this that you had been holding in your sleep? Why did you hurt in places?

“Morning, commander,” Stein told you as he walked over, responding to your confused grunts, “How are you feeling?”

“…What…where am I…?” you started, “…What is this,” you pointed to the new covering over your eye, “And who…who is this?” You scrambled up and snapped your head about in all directions, “Where are the demons? What happened to the…” you cooled down as you realized you were acting insane. “…Ahem…”

“We’re back in Kamienisty,” Stein told you, “We set up…I guess it’s a camp, in an alley here,” he pointed about where indeed a makeshift shelter had been set, the combat car at one end of it. “You lost your eyepatch when we ran into that tank. So we-“

“…Tank?” you interrupted Stein, “When..?”

Stein shrugged. “I don’t know, commander, you were the highest I’ve ever seen anybody that whole time. All we could find that was suitable was that pair of women’s underwear you had in your pocket. Figured it was good enough until we found another thing.”

Great. So you were wearing Anya’s panties over your eye. You already wanted to shoot yourself, but you may as well find out who the hell the little woman next to you had been. “…And who the hell is that..?” It was a short, dark red haired woman whose hair fell about to her shoulders in crimson waves. Her hands and feet had been bound and her mouth had been gagged, but more significantly, her uniform was the deep black of a Twaryian soldier.

“I have no clue. Some second line garrison trooper, I guess?” Stein threw up his hands, “You saw her at the second place we hit and started shouting about how you had to save your wife, and you came back dragging her. She was scared out of her mind, but you didn’t want to let go of her, so…” Stein laid his hands out towards the woman, “She doesn’t really look like her, I mean, but I guess when you’re on whatever drugs you were on…Jorgen and you got into a scuffle when he tried to pry her away from you here, though I don’t think he had good intentions anyways.”

She had rounded, youthful features, but yes, it was clear to anybody that that wasn’t Maddalyn Von Blum at all.

“…I didn’t do anything, did I..?”

“Just hugged her and petted her head.” Stein said easily, and you relaxed.

“…Did we get the Salt Bog Brew..?” you recalled what you had ostensibly wandered off to get.

Stein gave you a funny look. “Of course not. I mean, we got things, but we barely got away as is. I don’t think it even exists.”

“…You believe in ghosts and spirits but you don’t believe in Salt Bog Brew…”

Stein rolled his eyes at you. “You said we were staying overnight here, right? Did you have something to take care of?”

>Just in time to see the Major, then. What a great start to your morning all this would be. Leave anything else to your crew at this makeshift camp, rather than the hotel you had in mind.
>It wasn’t proper to keep a terrified woman tied up with your people. Maybe you should take care of that first. (How?)
>Other?
Also-
>Roll two sets of 1d100 to find out what you came back with-
1-25: Garnizon Underclothing
26-50: A Disheveled ERA Order Fighter
50-80: Cases of unidentified hard spirits
80-90: A minor wound
90-95: A motorcycle
95-100: A tank

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>4283302
cmon baby papa needs a new tank

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>4283302
By the Judge's scales, what
>Just in time to see the Major, then. What a great start to your morning all this would be. Leave anything else to your crew at this makeshift camp, rather than the hotel you had in mind.
>Other?
Do a head count, make a quick assessment of the car and whether it's in a state to get us back to camp, proper.
I don't think there's much we can do with the woman while we're camped in this alley, besides holding her until we get back to UGZ-09 where someone like Pikkarski can find a better use for her. At the least, un-gag her and offer an apology and maybe something to eat, for whatever it's worth.

>>4283302
>Just in time to see the Major, then. What a great start to your morning all this would be. Leave anything else to your crew at this makeshift camp, rather than the hotel you had in mind.
Also to deal with the woman we probably want to get her to our base as soon as possible, maybe get some squad leader or sergeant to watch over her and give her a decent room to stay in until we can figure what to do with our kidnapping victim.

>>4283302
>Just in time to see the Major, then. What a great start to your morning all this would be. Leave anything else to your crew at this makeshift camp, rather than the hotel you had in mind.
Wow, that was both way more eventful than I thought it would be.

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>4283302
>It wasn’t proper to keep a terrified woman tied up with your people. Maybe you should take care of that first. (How?)
Leave her in the UGZ

>>4283332
A confused child.
>>4283334
Exotic intimates.

Of course this roll after the two you got >>4283484 just serves to cast a shadow on it. At least you didn't get shot, right?

>>4283415
>>4283425
Go and finish up your business. Hopefully.

>>4283415
>>4283484
Have this random prisoner of war and totally not abductee taken to the UGZ.

>>4283334
Apologize and hope she understands New Nauk.

Writing.

>>4283501
Rather get shot tee bee aych

>>4283501
"That least you're not dead", is the worst condolence you can give a man.

>>4283484
why couldnt you have rolled first

>>4283484
nooooooooo we could have had a tank
what have i done

What were you supposed to do with this woman? You’d have the crew take her back to the UGZ, you supposed. She might have been an enemy combatant as far as Netilland was concerned, but, you didn’t know, you felt sort of bad for her. She wasn’t the one who blasted over the border and captured anybody, after all.

“…What else did we get in that ill-advised jaunt..?” you asked Stein.

“A few cases of women’s underwear, in the truck.”

“…Why..?”

Stein shrugged. “Oh, and a kid. You said to go by a place, and we picked somebody up. You were late in waking up so the rest of the crew took him with them to eat. Said you knew each other and his mom.”

“…Oh.” That was a relief, then. Thankfully even when losing your mind to mysterious mountain drugs, you remembered some priorities. “He’ll have to be taken to the UGZ-09. I told his mother I’d retrieve both of them. I’ve business to take care of, you don’t mind taking this woman to the same place, right? Putting her in a room and with a guard?”

Stein cocked an eyebrow at you. “…She’s a Twaryian, commander. We captured her. We came in so hard on places that the people there just ran off, except for the tank that came to get us. I don’t think she’ll appreciate it any more being your prisoner instead of the Netillians’, is all.”

“…I don’t care. Do it, please…” You knelt down to the redheaded Twaryian and undid the gag. She had fallen asleep, so you prodded her to wake her up again.

A wriggle, then her eyes flew open in alarm, as she stared up at you. “Ah!” she yelped, but she wasn’t as terrified as you had feared she might be, “Cho prehzkhodet?” She seemed more confused than anything, “P’chaemuteto deleaesh?”

“…Sorry,” you apologized, “Er, are you hungry..?”

The Twaryian woman stared at you helplessly, then flicked her eyes about. She must have at least known she wasn’t in a place where screaming would help her- she looked an awful lot like she wanted to try it were it otherwise. “Nenasaelimaenye, poezhaliesta.”

This wasn’t going anywhere. “…Give her some bread, I guess.” Could you ask anybody how to ask in Twaryian if somebody had to go to the bathroom? At least that could be answered with a nod or not. “I have to go. Just look after her, alright..?”

Stein sighed gruffly and shortly. “Whatever. Sir.” As you nodded and turned to leave, Stein cleared his throat. “You’re sure you want to do whatever it is with women’s underwear on your face?”

“…I have to cover the eye somehow. Does it look like I have underwear on my face..?”

Stein squinted, acquiesced. “Not really, I guess. It helps that nobody in their right mind would do that.”

“…Alright then…” Maybe you weren’t in your right mind, but that hardly mattered at the moment.

You went on your way to the usual tavern where you went to see the Major- you weren’t in any mood to goof around with drink guessing, though. It was one day until the deadline- you might even go today, just to get it over with. Your life, that was. If it would go that way. A dead man walking had little to fear from being berated.

Being in Kamienisty as it was, it didn’t take long.

The tavern was empty, since it was morning, so you didn’t waste any time. You walked right up to the tavern keeper, sat down in front of him.

“…Call her…” you said wearily.

“Nothing to drink, sir?”

“…Call her please…”

The bartender frowned. “One moment, then.” He walked off after reaching nonchalantly under the counter. Ten minutes. Fifteen minutes. Twenty. The bartender came back. “She says to meet her at her hotel. Says you know where it is.”

You didn’t exactly, but you remembered what section of town the dingy place was. Knowing better than to ask for a guide, you nodded, and went back out once more.

Twenty more minutes of searching and you found the place again. An IO agent you recognized was lounging at the bottom of the stairs up to the second floor, where the Major’s room was. He nodded at you as you went up, not blocking the way. A knock at the Major’s door- it opened soon after.

The Major, like when you visited before, hadn’t bothered dressing fully. She was in shorts and a loosely buttoned shirt, standing taller than you despite not wearing her high heels, her usual sunglasses off, revealing sharp dark green eyes…that felt oddly familiar to look at, thinking about it. “In,” she beckoned coolly, letting you step into the dimly lit space, the only light being the morning sun floating in through the shuttered windows and a dull lamp from the study. “You shouldn’t keep those on your face unless you’re extremely trusting of who wore them last. Though, you seem to become more intimate with your retinue by the day, don’t you?”

You refused to entertain that statement for a moment. You knew how ridiculous it was, but you weren’t going to waste time on it. “…You couldn’t come and see me at the tavern..?” you asked after you closed the door behind you.

“I see no reason to get dressed and get out of my room at this hour if I’m not even being bought a drink,” the Major said, like she was explaining to a child, “That, and this is concerning your sniper problem, no doubt. It is easier to gather the involved people close to here, where there are fewer studious onlookers.” You didn’t bother replying to that, and just followed the Major into her study. “So. Bertram Glennzsegler is an extremely dangerous individual, and I don’t care how you pissed him off. Only how we are going to get him off of you. There’s two decent ways. One is to attack him with yourself and my finest combat operatives. This has a good chance of killing all of you, so it isn’t a good plan.”

“…Your people can’t take him..?”

“You ought to know how skilled he is. You went on your adventure with his sister, almost as capable a sharpshooter, by our reckoning. Would you not measure her talents highly?”
It was true. Despite being an emotional wreck, even as wounded as she was, or worse, she was very deadly. An excellent shot, a capable acrobat, an expert stalker and hunter, strong of body and sharp eyed. You’d never considered what it would have been like for her to be your enemy. “…So what’s the alternative…”

“You die.” The Major said flatly, “There is a drug you can take, that facilitates an easy false death. Upon the body taking significant shock, it induces a near-death coma, able to be withdrawn from with drugs, or after around a day or two. You go out for your silly duel, and one of my agents shoots you in a place you’re unlikely to die from with a light round. Very, very low risk. You die, the Full Moon Sniper accepts this disappointment, and you come back to life once again. You’ll need a new name, but that is not so difficult to get in our position.”

“…No…”

“Pardon?”

“…I don’t want to die.” You said firmly. “I have a fiancée, friends, family, so much I’ve worked so much for…”

“And if you die,” the Major’s cold tone didn’t change, “You will have lost all that anyways, with no way to get any of it back. You can find other women, other friends. You have plenty of potential life to spend working up achievements once more.”

“…My family. My house. My ancestral legacy,” you insisted, “I would be the last Von Tracht…my parents have no other children…” Your mother had been cursed by repeated miscarriages. You had been the sole survivor of many potential siblings. For your mother’s sake, your father demanded none after yourself.

The Major made an odd face, for her. She smirked, laughed. “Ha. Ha ha. Yes, I suppose you are, aren’t you? I suppose you could fool the man for a time, but he would probably take it as an affront if you got right back up and started walking around again as yourself, wouldn’t he?”

“…I don’t see you offering better ideas…”

“I’m willing to hear them.” The Major told you, though part of you was sure that she was sticking with the option of your false death to draw you further into the IO; the request you’d made earlier, being given a twisted affirmative response. It was certainly what the IO wanted you to do, but you wouldn’t bend so easily to that, would you? “I am willing to help. I am harsh, not needlessly cruel. You did me a favor, and I’ll pay it in kind. You may have access to far more tools and materials than you might think…”

>Loading up for bear and going out with all you had against Bertram was your best bet. Say you’ll be going with the plan she finds to be stupid- Bertram is far from invincible.
>The fake death seemed good enough- but you refused to die completely. You’d just keep a low profile from now on, that is, if your good friend couldn’t be assassinated as he went up to check on you.
>Make some other plan. (Lay it out; the tools needed, the procedure, in general.)
>Other?

>>4283784
>Loading up for bear and going out with all you had against Bertram was your best bet. Say you’ll be going with the plan she finds to be stupid- Bertram is far from invincible.
We made that deal with Poltergeist right? I'd say with him on our side it's not that bullshit of an idea.

>The Major made an odd face, for her. She smirked, laughed. “Ha. Ha ha. Yes, I suppose you are, aren’t you?
Sounds like she knows something we don't...

>>4283784
>Loading up for bear and going out with all you had against Bertram was your best bet. Say you’ll be going with the plan she finds to be stupid- Bertram is far from invincible.
time to call the ghost

>>4283784
>>Loading up for bear and going out with all you had against Bertram was your best bet. Say you’ll be going with the plan she finds to be stupid- Bertram is far from invincible.

>>4283784
tanq this duel has no set time to begin right? It's just that Richter has to be there on that date?
The problem with faking our death is it'd have to be total. If we just resume living later Bertram will eventually find out, thus kicking the can down the road. And if even we do die, there's no reason he couldn't just kill our friends out of spite.
Also if we go with false death, why wouldn't he go after and kill our "killer" since we clearly didn't abide by the rules of a duel?

>Make some other plan. (Lay it out; the tools needed, the procedure, in general.)
While they don't know it we do have paranormal help with Emma. Once we pin down his location, a strong enough hunter team can probably shoot him. His strongest weapon is being hidden, I'd love to draw out Bertram out of a place he's had weeks to prepare for, but short of just kinda 'missing' the general area but waiting for him somewhere close to the mark we have to walk into his traps.

Just spitballing here with two options, which greatly endangers either Richter or the hunter team. If Richter wraps himself up in Kalamirz(?) bark, waits for Emma to point Bertram out and then fires a flare towards where he will be that should set the hunters on the chase. This does open them up to his supernatural eye and puts them in the line of fire and any traps he's laid for the occasion.

Or they hide themselves as tightly as possible and Richter does the most inept job of hunting that can be done, bright orange vest, short range gun, bird whistle whatever. If Bert sees him as such a non threat that he tries to toy with him before killing him that might cause Bert to make a mistake and expose himself. This highly depends both on Bertram not spotting our help, and feeling malicious and not just end Richter with one bullet.

>>4283862
>tanq this duel has no set time to begin right? It's just that Richter has to be there on that date?

Correct. You could potentially go there early, even. He's pretty much just waiting for you, at least, such was what he implied, and once the date ticks over...well, self explanatory.

>>4283862
Actually you know what? Another stupid idea. Let's duel with our tank. Dependent on the terrain, we accept his challenge with our weapon of choice and just become the biggest fucking target so the hunter team has all the distraction it needs to help. We bring smoke, HE, heaviest body armor we have and never poke our head out of the tank.
I'd like to think instead of fading away he'd accept the chance to kill us in our element. He probably has ways to disable the tank, but hopefully not enough to penetrate it. We probably have to carve out new hidden viewports/natural camouflage and seal the normal obvious ones otherwise he'll just pick us off inside.

>We came in so hard on places that the people there just ran off, except for the tank that came to get us.
Good lord, I can't imagine the sight of this without laughing my ass off.
>>4283784
>Loading up for bear and going out with all you had against Bertram was your best bet. Say you’ll be going with the plan she finds to be stupid- Bertram is far from invincible.
I'd like to hear some original suggestions from anons before we commit though.

>>4283867
I think I implied we should take a tank to Bert's gunfight as a tongue in cheek kind of joke once, but I can see the method to the madness if we've got some extra help working in background.

>>4283784
>Make some other plan. (Lay it out; the tools needed, the procedure, in general.)
Well the broad strokes of the plan would be to first confirm Bertram is even in the forest to begin with. From there we can try to either lure him into a part of the woods where it would be easier for some asset to get a shot at him, or we signal some reinforcements to try to move into the woods and start sweeping towards us. I'm relatively confident in the ability for smoke and spooky tree stuff to keep Richter hidden while moving to help bait Bertram further into whatever trap we can manage to set up. If we have the spooky ghost girl that would really help with finding out where Bertram is, but I don't want to rely on her.

tldr lure Bertram into an area where we have something set up to deal with him.

>>4283784
>Loading up for bear and going out with all you had against Bertram was your best bet. Say you’ll be going with the plan she finds to be stupid- Bertram is far from invincible.

>>4283784
>>Loading up for bear and going out with all you had against Bertram was your best bet. Say you’ll be going with the plan she finds to be stupid- Bertram is far from invincible.
We have an ace up our sleeve the Major doesn't know about: Emma. All she has to do is expose Bertram's location for us and disrupt his shots long enough for the Major's combat operatives to find and eliminate him. Maybe make loud noises or create a bright glow over where he is, and shake leaves in his face whenever he tries to aim. She should be able to manage something along those lines. For the IO combat operatives it'll be like playing a video game on easy mode with cheats enabled.

>>4283334
>Apology
>>4283415
>A decent room

She's a prisoner of war, anons. Follow the SOP and stop thinking with your dicks.

>>4283784
You know what? I support going in with a tank, like >>4283867 said. The reasoning being that Bertram could expect us doing so, and certainly would be prepared in some way, so he won't just run away. What he wouldn't expect would be IO people.

File: mellowlink.webm (2.95 MB, 624x478)

2.95 MB WEBM

>>4283867
I also support this, even if we're surely going to be faced with some mellowlink hijinks

>>4283867
>>4284044
>>4284240
Why the heck would Bertram stand and fight us if we show up in a tank when he can just slip away and go after our friends/us later?

>>4284269
Because he's a crazy fucker who hates us and wants to humiliate us and savor our fear. And, more importantly, I believe he is absolutely capable of taking us out even in a tank if we come without support. He can expect us to bring a tank, he has a whole week to prepare to fight a tank, he knows that beating us in a tank would be an ultimate humiliation.

Didn't he say if we show up with people he'll just fuck off and kill our whole family? Tank idea is funny but probably not a good idea.

>>4283867
>>4284894
The big problem with bringing tanks and other vehicles is that Bertram can probably hear them from a ways off, and if he doesn't like that, he can just slip out of the forest to start a sniping campaign of terror. Unless we know where he is or we surround the whole forest with tanks and infantry it is going to be hard to actually use some heavy support effectively.

>>4284894
>Didn't he say if we show up with people he'll just fuck off and kill our whole family?
Nope.
He said he'll kill anybody we bring along. But he'd stay and fight.

>>4285000
Of course nobody thinks we can sneak up on him in a tank. I'm betting on him not wanting to slip away.

I'll hold off on the tank thing unless tanq confirms exactly what bertram said. Yes I am lazy.

Leaning towards something like what other anons are saying of getting io boys to lay in wait while emma tell us where he is and richter acts as some sort of bait. Or even better a richter look alike whose actually an io agent.

Also requesting tanq post a map of the area closest to the woods the duel is arrnaged for, if there is one.

Apologies for the delay, Saturday was pretty full.
>>4285178
The exact "conditions" as it were,as far as he said, was-
>So dance for my pleasure, you wretched thing, or give me as good as you have. Not tonight, no. North, some ways beyond the Railhead. There is a forest between rolling hills. A lovely valley. A good place for a contest, between hunters, predator and prey. By the end of next week. Come there alone, or I’ll make you alone. Play the coward and flee from me…I’ll stay here a while. Cull the flock some. So long as you follow the rules, this remains between us.”
This might not exactly be written down as a contract and filed in triplicate but his sister's illiterate paperwork isn't hick specialty.

>>4285539
There isn't one. Yet, at least.

It's been a day I know but I'll still be holding off til half after the turn of the hour to call it.

>>4283801
>>4283804
>>4283820
>>4283868
>>4283920
>>4283949
Go hunting with the Major's boys. Bring your dead girl to work day.

>>4283867
>>4284044
>>4284240
Attend the date with a tank. Well.

>>4283915
Become living bait.

There are other general ideas I'll note down for when you proper embark.

Writing.

“…I’m thinking I’d rather go with the plan you’re calling stupid.” Your death, whether it was genuine or exaggerated, was not going to be an acceptable outcome. “Maybe you don’t think much of it, but I have more tricks up my sleeve than you know…” The most important was Emma- as far as you knew, Bertram had no way to avoid being tracked down and followed by a ghost. Thank your lucky stars you found her again in time. There was a temptation to also bring up that you had tanks- but your willingness to use them wasn’t properly motivated enough to be confident in such a statement. On one hand, could Bertram really beat a tank? On the other hand, maybe he could. Worse, maybe he’d break off whatever he’d planned to attack something else because he couldn’t beat a tank. The worst scenario.

The Major was ever so slightly amused by this. “Don’t you seem confident. Are you sure there’s nothing you want to share?” When you replied to that with silence, she was unperturbed. “We all need our secrets, don’t we. Though a word of warning. While my men are willing to do favors, you aren’t important enough to commit suicide for. So don’t think you can trade their lives for your own- they’ll notice, and not be appreciative for the opportunity.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind. When can I expect them..?”

“They’re already here. When you go out, they’ll be ready to go with you. Also, just so you know their capabilities,” The Major picked up a heretofore unseen long gun case, laid it on the desk, and opened it before you. It looked like a plain Strossvald army issue Hagen Rifle- the carbine variant, to be specific, like was present in your tanks. That only extended to the action and the furniture, however. The barrel looked to be shrouded in something like a water cooled machine gun might be, running down its entire length. The rounds for it were also odd. The casings were short and the bullets were larger. “This weapon is extremely expensive. The rounds for it are custom made, and so is the suppressor. It is very effective- but only for several shots.” You instinctively reached for it, but the Major batted your hand away. “Not for you right now. Only when you embark. If any fall, you are expected to retake their weapons and ammunition or destroy them. I’ll know otherwise.”

“…Of course…” you grumbled, leaning back and crossing your arms, “Is there anything else you wanted to taunt me with..?”

“No.” The Major shut the case again, “Just a final decision on when you intend to do it. I would advise against attacking him at night, after all.”

“…Tomorrow is the deadline.” Today was the 18th of January. You’d been given by the end of next week since Bertram attacked you first to go and meet him. The 19th was the final day. You’d see if it was also the last day of your life. “I’ll be running it right to the edge…”

“If he has given you so long to prepare, then why not exploit it, I suppose.” The Major put the gun case back down on the floor, before squinting into your eyes. “Interesting.”

“…What..?”

“I have been studying you and the other Lieutenant. I’d heard from my men that you and your friends went on a bizarre night raid over the border for no apparent reason. It seems to have had an effect.”

Did it? You honestly didn’t remember. “…Alright…”

>Though half fictional and brewed by powerful hallucinogens, your raid the other night has steeled your spirit ever so slightly. +1 Valor. Your current gain is 4.

“If there was naught else, I’d like you out of my room.” The Major not so subtly shooshed you out, “Get that underwear off of your face as well, you look ridiculous. If you’re going to color coordinate with the bleach then at least get a proper patch.”

You needed no more motivation to get up and go out without another word. Was there even a place to have hair dyed again around here? Bleach didn’t come out if you washed it hard enough, did it? You had no clue, it wasn’t like you’d ever considered It before, but the IO likely hadn’t cared how long it might last.

After that short talk, you went back to where the temporary camp had been set up, only to find Stein to be the only one waiting for you. He was just there to make sure you got back. The others had piled in the combat car to go right back to the UGZ-09, which was fine enough. At least Lucia would have her son back as a result of that unplanned raid, where you had also gotten a frightened Twaryian woman and a few cases of women’s underwear. Was it worth being chased by a tank? None of you had been hurt, at least. Maybe the truck had been, but it wasn’t yours anyways.

…If drug fueled combat helped, then maybe you could ask for some more? No, best not to try that. Blasting through a psychedelic hell that twisted your mind and senses wasn’t something you wanted to experiment with. It might have only worked out in the first place because you had the luck to go over the border during one of the Twaryians’ transitionary periods where their night people woke and their day people hit the sack.

Maybe worth a little more thought as you drove back, though.

Have to go for a while- will complete update later. Like tonight later.

>>4286877
speaking of drugs, how much wakeleaf do we have left ?

>>4286890
I'll have to go back and check when I get back. You might have snorted it all when Von Metzeler was disarmed, but I'd orefer to be sure of that statement.

Anya told you to not take it any more or she'd beat you.

Back earlier than expected and as for-
>>4286890
I checked back and Richter snorted two hits of Wakeleaf back in the First Camp Battle, so yeah, you're fresh out.
You could buy more, I guess, but is risking becoming addicted worth it?
Resuming writing.

>>4286877
We've fought DEMONS for measly +1? Preposterous! Scandalous!

Outside the UGZ, you got back in touch with your unit- made sure your men had come back with their two new passengers (occupying the seats that had been relinquished by yourself and your gunner), but as you went for the gates proper, to check where they went, Junior Lieutenant Frederick Krause found you.

“Hey, Richter,” he addressed you, “Come over and talk with me a bit, Rondo’s busy hanging out with women instead of me. Bad habit of both of yours, eh?”

Hm. You supposed you had no reason not to spend some time with your sole officer remaining fully intact. “…Sure. Is it business..?”

“Some of it. Doesn’t have to be just that.” Krause led you towards a section of UGZ wall that was actually stone rather than fence, and stopped, taking out a cigarette and lighting it. “Sure you don’t want to try, this brand’s something better than usual. Snagged a box from Wielzci’s boys, pre-occupation brand. Token of thanks from the Representative council here or whatever for kicking the Penal Company out. Even though Rondo’s the one who did that.”

“…I appreciate it, but I’d really rather not start a habit…”

“Last few people I talked to ended up liking it, is all. Rondo’s figured it helps with his…you know, thing, you both had. Taught that girl Signy how to do it too, when you set up that date for us. Heard from your guys she’s still on that.”

“…I see.” Krause had gotten Signy smoking? In only one night? The stresses of the Republic must have been no joke. She’d certainly continued the habit.

“I’ll see if I can get the Sergeant on it too, eh? Oh, don’t give me that sort of look, I get it, I’ll keep away from her with my bad influences.” Krause took a drag of the cigarette, “She’d be a bad influence on my own vocabulary, in any case.”

“…I actually wanted to talk about, getting ready to go home…” you said wistfully, “Or at least, out of here. Should only be a couple of weeks, or so I’m told. Just have to wrap up what we’re doing here…”

“With Gerovic permanently stopped from stirring anything up, shouldn’t be too hard, yeah? Aside from this rogue group of penals that’s been growing, just have to take care of this latest crop of Revolutionary League people that came over here on the train that day, and we can sit on our hands ‘til we have to leave. Not like they gave us too much trouble cleaning them up last we did it.”

“…I suppose.” It might not be so easy this time, with the anti-tank guns they managed to offload, as well as potential collaboration with the National Liberation Front. Perhaps that collaboration might make things easier for yourself, though? “We’re weaker than we’ve ever been, though. If any more threats come around, I’d rather not have to run away from a camp again…we don’t even have our radios and furniture, do we? We escaped with the bare essential, practically…”

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“Speaking of, there were a few things salvaged. Sergeant Nowicki’s laundry bag, some other things. Seems most of what was underground wasn’t interesting, or they didn’t want to stay long enough for Edelschwert to come around again.” Krause blinked at you, “Actually, speaking of…are you wearing the Sergeant panties? On your face? I thought there was something funny, but now that I look closer-”

“I didn’t-“ you snapped, “It’s not-“ you choked, and sighed, “Somehow when I went out last night with my crew, I lost my actual eyepatch, and when I woke up my crew had put them on me. I need some covering for my eye while it heals…”

“Think they stole it and put those on you as a joke,” Krause snickered, “If you don’t mind wrapping yourself with a bandage, I can sneak those in with the rest of her clothes and it’ll be like they were never gone. Unless you want to keep ‘em?” Krause added that last jab with a dirty smirk.

“…I’d appreciate it if you conveyed them to her, when I replace my eye coverings…” you said sorely, touching at said coverings before realizing what they were again.
“Hah! Eh, couple of weeks though, eh? Think we’ll take the tanks back with us?”

“…I was told they were coming with us because the army had gotten all they could out of them. They’re basically Valstener leftovers now…” you mused of the dwindling collection of tanks that had come with you, “The weaponry they carried seemed more important, in the case of the X-80, but now that that’s gone…”

“I liked that thing,” Krause clicked his tongue and shook his head, “Too bad it got so beat up. Couldn’t run off with it. I’d liked to have spent some more time with it. For how outdated and weird their other stuff was, seemed like the seagulls were putting together some fine stuff for the future. Can only hope the Archduchy’s doing the same, huh?” Krause took another long breath of smoke before flicking the spent cigarette away, “What do you think? These new tanks got your fancy? I know there was something funky up with your old m/32. We really wore those things out, didn’t we? Wouldn’t be surprised if what we took back had to be refitted after we dumped them off. You have a preference? You want to get back to your old love, or has a new flame gotten your favor?”

>The m/32 hadn’t ever failed you. Every day spent with these foreign capture tanks made you feel further from the Archduchy. These tanks had done well- but you wouldn’t miss them.
>The X series tanks were quiet and resilient, and their array of weaponry had been exciting to have access to. You’d like to keep them, if you had the choice- haunted or no.
>Weren’t you allowed to like both equally? A tank commander couldn’t “cheat” on their equipment…
>Other?

>>4287669
>Other: We need new tanks with bigger guns. We've had trouble with Twaryian armor every time.

By the way, did any of the mercenaries survive? We need to give them a huge bonus.

>>4287669
>The m/32 hadn’t ever failed you. Every day spent with these foreign capture tanks made you feel further from the Archduchy. These tanks had done well- but you wouldn’t miss them.
Spooky m/32 best girl
>>4287691
Was going to ask this too, see if anyobody made a visual confirmation as much as one can potentially distinguish a single charred corpse from another that Eakova and Illger went out with their tanks. I have a hard time believing the salties dicked our cockroach that easily.

>>4287669
>The X series tanks were quiet and resilient, and their array of weaponry had been exciting to have access to. You’d like to keep them, if you had the choice- haunted or no.

>>4287669
>Other: Hopefully the Archduchy can use the data we've collected so far plus the captured T16 to accelerate getting out a new medium tank.

The X tanks were good but ultimately just like other light tanks once we can't run away or kill the enemy immediately things get pretty messy as seen by the camp assaults. Maybe Metzeler would still have his arm if he was in a m/32.

Would be nice if the Archduchy or the Blumlands came up with an improved model even to our 47mm version though; considering all the new Twayrian models we've come across. Imagine the m/32 with a proper engine for the additional armour and with a gun that has even better performance without the drawbacks of the 4.7cm.
Alternatively some entirely new model would be nice as well though with the m/32s being pretty new I'd doubt it.

>>4287691
>>4287698
Supporting both sentiments

>>4287669
>>4287691
>>4287698
These.

>>4287691
Supporting. Something with a casemate would be neat.
and the m/32 is too ugly

>>4287775
>spoiler
Them's fighting words

>>4287775
No casemates thanks; we want a proper tank not some tank destroyer or assault gun.

Though tanq would tank destroyer crews/units be considered separate from the Panzer branch in Strossvald like some nations did historically ?

>>4287669
>>4287691
>>4287698
+1. Also ask him if he knew that some of the X-80 shells were taken during the raid.

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>>4287781
I think there's merit in a tank destroyer type. It should be a lot more cost effective to put a big gun in an existing hull than design a whole new turret capable of accommodating a serious cannon.
The Archduchy has a ton of m/28s lying around that are basically obsolete by now, maybe they could be retrofitted into some kind of Hetzer-esque vehicle. Not that Richter has much a say in such a matter, but who knows.

>>4287812
Not arguing against Strossvald having tank destroyers, just that I don't want Richter in one considering TDs are primarily meant to be used defensively. Give me a Panzer III or IV analogue over a Hetzer any day.

>>4287817
I was under the impression the m/32 is something of a Panzer III analogue and the m/28 the Panzer II, respectively.

>>4287821
Actually yeah I can agree with you on that point. Panzer IV then. IIRC the T-15s already have a 75mm gun with AP rounds and who knows what the other big bois like the Reich possesses.

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>>4287669
>The m/32 hadn’t ever failed you. Every day spent with these foreign capture tanks made you feel further from the Archduchy. These tanks had done well- but you wouldn’t miss them.

It is quite actually a tank with potentially invulnerable armor. This is no actual comparison here.
Best case it gets an upgraded engine and gun that can compete better. Also I for one like the dumpy looking tanks.

>>4287669
>The m/32 hadn’t ever failed you. Every day spent with these foreign capture tanks made you feel further from the Archduchy. These tanks had done well- but you wouldn’t miss them.
I say this because the Armor of Fate is literally the best thing ever and that would probably color Richter's view of things.

>>4287669
>>The m/32 hadn’t ever failed you. Every day spent with these foreign capture tanks made you feel further from the Archduchy. These tanks had done well- but you wouldn’t miss them.

I wonder what indigenous Strossvald designs look like, since the M series are licensed from Naukland

>>4287694
>>4287839
>>4288079
>>4288149
Take me home country roads to the Blumlands where my tank belongs

>>4287696
But these tanks are called X, not ex.

>>4287691
>>4287698
>>4287700
>>4287725
>>4287775
>>4287787
If that don't work, use more gun. More armor. Bigger and better.
Also check out if the theft of experimental shells was known.

Writing.

>>4287691
>By the way, did any of the mercenaries survive? We need to give them a huge bonus.
Five crew and the support people, yes, though you're not actually responsible for their pay- the Republic of Mittelsosalia is. You're just who they're ostensibly employed by.

>>4287781
>Though tanq would tank destroyer crews/units be considered separate from the Panzer branch in Strossvald like some nations did historically?
The foot/towed units are part of the infantry, and theoretically, mechanized tank destroyer units would be part of the armor. They'd likely be considered to be attached to, if not the same, as the Panzer units, though such would also depend on their patron due to the decentralized nature of Strossvald's army on the formation side if not necessarily overall command.

>>4288149
>I wonder what indigenous Strossvald designs look like, since the M series are licensed from Naukland
Strossvald's decentralized, patron based army was once much less uniform, something that changed roughly twenty years ago. Were it not for the Armed Forces Uniformity Act, you'd likely see a far greater variety of equipment for reasons of both prestige and rivalry. Part of the decision to make Naukland designs the primary tank designs (besides saving money) was so that the most prestigious units wouldn't suffer controversy over where a design came from, though as one can tell from the Von Blum model M/32s, there's still loopholes that are exploited.
Armored Cars, being the domain of lowly border patrol and reconnaissance, have no similar issue, same as the standard infantry weapons, as the Hagen Rifle and the Von Muse machine gun are products of local inventors.

You did miss your old tank, along with its strange, supernatural capabilities, especially the Armor of Fate and its ability to nullify any incoming damage. That was especially appreciated after you’d suffered a direct hit in one of these new tanks with their armor lighter than even the baseline m/32, let alone the up-armored Von Blum variant. Even then, it wasn’t your own armor that had most caught your attention- it had been your enemies. The 5 cm gun that was the best general purpose piercing weapon your tanks were equipped with- was able to be defeated by the T-15’s frontal armor, and the T-16 was relatively resistant to it as well. The old m/32’s 4.7 cm gun was more powerful, with more power behind a slightly smaller diameter round, but even then it was beginning to age as even in Valsten the newer, heavier tanks could resist that round, and the T-15 had to have weak points aimed for as well. Such was against Valsten and Twaryi- who could say if the greatest foe, the Reich, had even more intimidating vehicles that they had kept hidden, and were waiting to unleash? You couldn’t properly recall their inventory at present, but they surely weren’t resting on whatever laurels they had remaining.

“…I’d prefer bigger guns and thicker armor…” you summed up in one phrase to Krause, “It’s not pleasant to have less of either than your enemy…”

“Isn’t that the truth,” Krause agreed, “I’m sure that’s how the people in Sosaldt felt when we rolled up, huh?”

“…Probably.” An admission of being in a position of superiority more often than not thus far, “But I’d rather not relinquish that particular advantage to balance the scales…If we maintained that advantage, Von Metzeler would still have his arm…”

Krause’s smile vanished. “…Yeah, I guess so.”

“…Von Metzeler told me about some of the X-80’s shells being taken in that raid. Did he tell you..?”

A grimace flashed across Krause’s face. “Yeah, we tried to blow up things on the way out, but we didn’t get enough time. We couldn’t blow them up where they were because they were too close to where we had to get things out of, and when we thought we could get them on the way out, they went straight for them. They knew what they were after.”

Well, the Intelligence Office hardly needed to know that. “…It’s for the best to have focused on evacuation rather than destruction anyways.” The IO could stuff it if they thought you’d sacrifice your people’s lives for their silly shells, valuable as they were. “We can probably learn more than they would from us just from what we’ve taken from them. The T-16 is new, after all…”

“Maybe.” Krause was still morose. “Has Rondo shown you his new fiancée?” A short not in response. “Cute, isn’t she?”

“…Ehhh.”

“Don’t be like that, she seems nice,” Krause shook his head as he took out a second cigarette, “Though when she first meets Rondo, he’ll be, the same state you’re in, without an arm…just a shame, you know.” A short puff on the cigarette, “If he has a change of heart from staying on because of that, and takes up being in reserve because of the injury, I’ll probably hand in my resignation and join him where he goes. I’m common born, panzer corps never expected much from me anyways, and I didn’t join up to go up the ladder. Though, that means we’ll be leaving you alone with the Sergeant, eh?”

“…She’s actually told me, that if I’m not in the field, she won’t stay around me,” you recounted to Krause, “She’ll go elsewhere. I can’t stop her if she’s set her mind to it, but I’d rather she get at least a little better before setting out on her own…”

“Sheesh, we’re all just gonna let you go, then?” Krause looked at you sideways, “Rondo won’t like the sound of that, for better or worse. He’ll follow your bad example and leave his fiancée at home forever.”

That remark prompted a sour frown. “I’ll be heading straight back after we’re finished in Ellowie…”

“Rondo said you called her over in Sosaldt,” Krause caught you in a direction unawares, “She’s certainly willing to come to you when she’s called, is all.”

“…I’d rather have all the troubles dealt with before potentially having her harmed, again…”

“Depends on if all the troubles will ever be dealt with, Commander,” Krause said with resignation, “Speaking of. The supervisor here, Maenesko, he’s called. Said there was a new problem with those Penal Company deserters, they’ve expanded, and a bunch of Sosaldtian mercenaries that got fed up with the Kommissar paying them joined them too. He says the Representatives are concerned, with them being close to the UGZ, and the risk of them attacking the roads or the workers going to the logging site is there, and they could disrupt the logging itself, too. Technically, it’s the Penal Company’s job to take care of their own, but, ‘course, Maenesko asked us for a reason.”

You didn’t like hearing that much. “…And the reason is..?”

“Because the Penals won’t do it, of course.” Krause said baldly, “Says he tried asking, but he knows they won’t do anything. Apparently the Captain’s afraid that even if they wanted to handle it, trying to round them up would mean his men turn on him. There’s a rumor saying they’re planning to flee west, go back to Sosaldt through something called the Spout Market, but they might hit whatever before and along the way.”

“…Mhm.” you didn’t really need this today, but you nodded nonchalantly, “Anything else..?”

“Thankfully, no.” Krause said, “Over the border, I hear things are mucked up, but there hasn’t been a Twaryian sighting in a while. Guess they think the local insurgents were the ones who grabbed Gerovic, not you across the border.”

An unexpected boon indeed.

“So, you think you’ll take up that favor? Figure it might be a good way to get some grit in the new Ellowian platoons, though,” Krause glanced back at your motor pool camp just outside the UGZ, “It’d be a lie to say we were in good condition to give them any support. I guess Rondo isn’t sick or dying or anything, so we can get you and him, maybe all three of us, maybe Wielzci too, hell maybe we get Edelschwert’s help, but we don’t have to do it.”

>Sure, if it’s a favor for Maenesko and the UGZ. You’ll take that up, no matter if you could be in better shape. You probably wouldn’t ever be back to your former strength anyways, while you were here.
>No deal. Your unit can’t handle it right now. Wish Maenesko luck, and say the UGZ at least will be well protected.
>They’re heading west to Sosaldt? What if they could be guided with no trouble at all? You couldn’t do it in an official capacity, but if your mission was to indirectly weaken the region…though they’d have to wait until after you dealt with Bertram, you could try and meet them today, at least.
>Other?

>>4288576
>>Sure, if it’s a favor for Maenesko and the UGZ. You’ll take that up, no matter if you could be in better shape. You probably wouldn’t ever be back to your former strength anyways, while you were here.
Good for giving the new Ellowian platoon some combat experience before the big thing.

>>4288576
>Sure, if it’s a favor for Maenesko and the UGZ. You’ll take that up, no matter if you could be in better shape. You probably wouldn’t ever be back to your former strength anyways, while you were here.
Also how many more days are there until the next round of RP spending?

>>4288596
>Also how many more days are there until the next round of RP spending?
After your duel.

>>4288576
>They’re heading west to Sosaldt? What if they could be guided with no trouble at all? You couldn’t do it in an official capacity, but if your mission was to indirectly weaken the region…though they’d have to wait until after you dealt with Bertram, you could try and meet them today, at least.

>>4288576
>Sure, if it’s a favor for Maenesko and the UGZ. You’ll take that up, no matter if you could be in better shape. You probably wouldn’t ever be back to your former strength anyways, while you were here.

>>4288576
>>Sure, if it’s a favor for Maenesko and the UGZ. You’ll take that up, no matter if you could be in better shape. You probably wouldn’t ever be back to your former strength anyways, while you were here.
They need the exposure to combat, helps the UGZ and since we're coming back, would be nice to have some allies in the region.
Also steering them would be nice, but we're already on their Penal shit list and nothing short of bribing them or giving them a juicy target will convince them.

>>4288576
>Sure, if it’s a favor for Maenesko and the UGZ. You’ll take that up, no matter if you could be in better shape. You probably wouldn’t ever be back to your former strength anyways, while you were here.
We will feast on combat to feed our Valor!

>>4288587
>>4288596
>>4288615
>>4288717
>>4288747
Get those boys some meat in their diet.

>>4288603
Hey I'm going to the Spout Market too.

Looks like they're going to hell, though, if things go your way. Writing.

“…Sure. If it’s a favor to Maenesko and the UGZ.” Also a favor to the Ellowians, with Alpha Two approaching. “We could be in better shape, but we’ll probably never return to our former strength anyways. It’ll help cut the new Ellowian Platoons’ teeth…” Maenesko had never wronged you either, and was sympathetic to the Ellowians, and seemingly dismissive and disrespectful of the Netillian government as it stood. You wouldn’t have ever asked and compromised him, but you couldn’t help but wonder if he had made secret alliances to the insurgencies himself.

“Alright then,” Krause clapped his hands together and rubbed them, “Gonna rouse the troops, I take it? Most of the troops are in the UGZ, after all. The Netillian portion’s still making what rounds they can around the sector, but you have the Lowlanders in mind anyways.”

“…Yeah. I’ll get the details from Maenesko, as well. We won’t fight these deserters and mercenaries unprepared…”

“Alright then,” Krause tossed the rest of his cigarette away and beckoned, “I’ll guide you to the gate, then. Thanks for the chat.”

-----

Maenesko’s office was like it ever was, at first glance. At second glance, the paperwork stacks weren’t quite as high as they once were. Others were more neatly arranged. Some space must have cleared up on the desk, because new clutter that there couldn’t have been room for now appeared as new sights.

“Coordinator,” Maenesko said, level and monotone, “You’ve heard my request?”

“…I’m here to accept it…”

“Ah, good.” Maenesko thumbed a folder on top of a paper stack, examined it briefly, and handed it to you. “It would have been rather awkward if you refused. I had gone to the trouble of making sure you were well equipped with information, after all. In that folder there if a brief overview of matters. I’ll go over it with you, to ensure mutual understanding.”

The first section included a map. Rough- mostly woods, thick, with two angles too dense to reasonably approach with mechanized troops, and the other two lightly wooded. An old path strayed near.

“As you might be able to tell, they’ve made their current hideout in some woods. Deep enough to not easily be accessible, but also deep enough that they may not notice an attack coming until it is too late, should you strike with enough speed and force. Not enough, and they may dare to bring the battle to you.”

“…How many of them are there..?” Maenesko made a motion to turn pages, and you did-there it was.

“Approximately one platoon of deserting Penal Soldiers, half of that of Sosaldtian mercenary infantry, as well as mechanized assets they took with them when they left. Said assets are a pair of model NfK-7t tanks, and a pair of model PA-E5 armored cars. I trust their capabilities are known to you?”

The PA-E5, yes. Such armored cars were a part of Edelschwert’s unit, armed with a short 3.7 cm cannon and a machine gun. The other…slipped your mind. “…The latter, yes, the former, no…”

“A rather ugly thing. The hull of a normal, beetle-like NfK-7,” Ah, you knew that one, also in Edelschwert’s group. “The hull is built up enough to place a turret on top, with the same armament. I’m a navy man, I can’t tell you the logic behind it other than it having a turret, but otherwise, you could say its general capabilities are similar in potential to its turretless ancestor- though with the flexibility of a turret.”

A question on the mind, but you flipped to the next page for the answer. “…So this penal platoon, approximately forty men, and twenty mercenaries on foot.” On the surface, if you brought all three Ellowian platoons, you’d have more than a three to one advantage. “You say here they’re all respectably experienced, though.”

“Penal troops tend to be, yes. They aren’t the best equipped, but they’re capable fighters. Same with the mercenaries. If you look on the other side- aerial photographs, taken of the compound. They haven’t fortified it much, and haven’t had access to mines, or the like. They’re certainly intending on moving, soon, at least. It isn’t known. However…there has been a pair of troublesome developments. The flight that took those photos, and found the base- the other craft in that mission was shot down by ground fire, forced to land near that hideout. We can assume that the crew has been captured if they survived.”

“…So they have hostages…”

“Not just those, either. A rural village north of here reported to the Representatives that, when the mercenaries passed by, on their way to join the deserters, they intimidated the families there into giving up their women under the age of thirty, above fourteen. They gained four more hostages that way.”

“…Damn. No choice but to use particular discretion, then…”

“I’m sure all involved would appreciate it if you did that,” Maenesko said with dull sarcasm, “Though. You should have it reiterated to you, that these are Penal deserters. Desertion can place one in a Penal Legion, but most of these people have been charged for political crimes. Some of them have family and friends held in camps as collateral. Deserting from a Penal Soldier sentence has only one punishment, and that is death. They’re all aware of that, as well.”

“…No surrender, then…” you finished for Maenesko, and he nodded slowly.

“Mercenaries aren’t often the sort to fight to the death when cornered, but you can assume these deserters absolutely will. They can hope for nothing if they surrender and are taken prisoner again. Even if any were to surrender, you would do them no favors by handing them over to the higher command here to be processed. An unfortunate state of affairs, but it’s how it is and it’s the choice they’ve made here.” He idly knit his hands in front of his chin, “If you noticed from those photographs, they’re stockpiling things. They have a few trucks, crates. Most likely they’re taking goods with them to the Sprout Market as capital. No doubt the women they kidnapped are also part of that, while the Autogyro crew can be insurance against any attacking them. I’ll trust you to deal with this mess, though. At the very least, if you scatter them and naught else, they won’t be as great a threat.”

You flipped through the relevant papers another time. This wasn’t shaping up to be a walk in the park- at least, if you intended to do it perfectly.

>Prepare assets for the operation. Who are you taking along? Besides, presumably, every Ellowian Platoon, 4th-6th. Tanks, support, the like.
>Potentially request Edelschwert’s help?
>Ask Maenesko anything else?
>Other?

Your company assets are here- >>4277786 and here- >>4277103
Map is in progress. I won't ask for maneuver plans until the vote after this.

>>4289172
>Prepare assets for the operation
All the tanks. We have just enough people to crew them all if we use the remains of the mercs (by the way I think we should give them a bonust regardless of who pays them. They have saved our asses on their own initiative, displaying courage and resoluteness in the process.
T-16 has its gun damaged but can still be used as a mobile MG bunker and for intimidation.
All munition caster teams. Take Anya's caster as well.
All the Ellowians + the 2nd Platoon
The best scouts from all the platoons.

>Ask Maenesko anything else?
What does he know about the Penals' armament? Do they have machineguns?

>Other?
I wonder whether we could contact the rebel mercs and buy them off.

>>4289172
All the Ellowians (with MGs and casters, 4th with stormtrooper gear)
Krause,Richter, Metzeler in the X-20 X-51 X-52
All the combat cars we captured from the Twayrians
Mortar team
>Ask Maenesko anything else?
Any other AT equipment besides the vehicles?

>>4289226
Honestly I think we have a good chance of negotiating with both. After all we're not Netillian and neither are the guys we're sending.

>>4289369
>Mortar team
Oh yes, the precision weapon for freeing hostages.

>>4289411
They can fire other rounds besides HE you know. Like smoke? Also they'll be good for dealing with any stragglers who try to break out of the wood

>>4289172
>>Ask Maenesko anything else?
Does he know which Kommissar was paying the mercenaries originally? (not so much to ask the guy about it, more to know how he treated them and for reference)
So the deserters have family as collateral right? Meaning now that they've deserted they've doomed their families? If so then we aren't going to ever be able to negotiate with them.
Maybe when we talk to our Mercs about their bonus we can ask them what the going rate is for a merc of grey gunners this size and ways to talk with them.

>>4289466
Depends though. If they're so desperate as to desert even with their families as collateral if we give them a way out they might be amenable.

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Well this wasn't supposed to take this long to come out, but I sat down elsewhere, then cats sat down on me, and now it's next morning.
Anyways, the AO map, here. The terrain is a generalization- even what seems sparsely wooded won't have visibility on anything more than a hundred meters away or so. Thickly wooded areas are treacherous for vehicles to pass through.
The Autogyro unit marking is the crash site, not necessarily where the crew is.

To save on some time I'll address things that would be said in the files, or implied:

>>4289226
>What does he know about the Penals' armament? Do they have machineguns?
They would have light machine guns as required by Netillian squad structure. Nothing better than you have, though, and they certainly don't have the new model machine guns some of your units have. Besides that, they just have plain rifles.
If you had picked the Penals as your unit at the start of this arc you'd discover that their assault units make do with sawn off old hunting shotguns

>>4289369
>Any other AT equipment besides the vehicles?
None whatsoever, besides maybe improvised bundled charges made from grenades.

>>4289466
>Does he know which Kommissar was paying the mercenaries originally? (not so much to ask the guy about it, more to know how he treated them and for reference)
They were under Captain of State Security, Kommissar Vanberg. Funnily enough, this isn't the first time you've shot at this bunch, if you remember.

>So the deserters have family as collateral right? Meaning now that they've deserted they've doomed their families? If so then we aren't going to ever be able to negotiate with them.
While they don't necessarily all have such applied to them, and it isn't necessarily a case of "your family is executed" so much as "your family never leaves the camps except as penal workers", they probably understand the repercussions of their decisions, yes.

>>4289740
It's certainly not much to base a plan on, so my proposal is simple:

>Assault and support groups sneak up to the camp from wherever the thick woods come the closest, led by our best infiltrators
>Assault group grabs the civvies
>Support group shoots the not civvies
>Use tear gas and smoke with abandon
>Prepare snipers to take out anyone trying to threaten a civvie
>Ambush squads are sitting on the other three sides of the camp to cut off enemy retreat
>The tanks with a bit of infantry support are in reserve to be used against enemy armor when it's located. No blindly advancing into the hundred meter visibility woods.

>>4289740
Voting seems to be slow for this one. Just to check which side of the map are we deploying from?

>>4290618
>Just to check which side of the map are we deploying from?

Any angle you want. This is behind your lines after all.
Voting being slow is fine. Usually today I don't get to do much writing because of ttrpg sessions, today's an odd one out because the dm isn't feeling good.

File: OPERATION PIGS IN A BLANKET.png (1.53 MB, 1372x1380)

1.53 MB PNG

>>4289740
>They were under Captain of State Security, Kommissar Vanberg.
Ooooh. No, no I don't think we're gonna be able to negotiate with them either after blowing up that flamethrower tank.

>>4289226
I mostly support this except for asking there was a particular reason for adding 2nd Platoon? The Nets have been pretty well devastated and might react poorly to get called up again when the Ellowians are untouched.

That and each tank costs 1 fuel right? I think we should get three full operable tanks and have 1 ration just in case for later.

>Plans?
Well, just going in there guns blazing will probably succeed but might get some civvies killed.
The only thing I could think of besides flood it with gas (which we should do during the main assault anyway) is try to lure some of them away from the compound by sending the 5th Platoon to "investigate" the crash site and pounce on them if they take the bait. Either way it should get their attention in one direction for a bit.
This plan all hinges on the Mercs assuming the Autogyros didn't see much and underestimate our response though.

5th as bait because they are least experienced and only have to hold their ground, 5th to rush support because they are at least trained soldiers and 4th with a tank to actually assault.
---
tanq, would Richter believe that the 3.7 cm cannon could pierce the T-16s armor? If not then maybe it would be worth bringing it for mobile cover.

>>4291177
>tanq, would Richter believe that the 3.7 cm cannon could pierce the T-16s armor? If not then maybe it would be worth bringing it for mobile cover.

His experience with the T-16s is enough to know. As far as he's seen or heard, the T-16 is impervious to 3.7 cm fire from the front, at least from any normal armor piercing rounds.

As for plans IMO we should hit them on all sides simultaneously. Send in the stormtroopers to grab the hostages while we pour gas into the area. Basically hit them with everything before they can get organized and man their tanks. Going to be pretty hard to fire back when you're affected by tear gas.

>>4291177
>a particular reason for adding 2nd Platoon
They have assault gear and new MGs, and they are regular. I wouldn't send them in as an assault element, but I believe we need more regulars to support the tanks. There's no time to train the Ellowians in that.

>>4291183
For the camp are the grey lines supposed to be trenches or is it like a palisade/wall?

Well maneuver plans have been provided so I guess I can make up for stalling here by...well, at first I thought to stitch them together, but I'll just provide what's been presented in short form next.

>>4289226
All Ellowians Dragging Anya out of bed, all tanks. 2nd can come alone too. Every noob tube.
Whatever scouts you can grab, I suppose.

>>4291177
As above; no 2nd platoon or fourth tank.

>>4289369
Every single one of those lowland fucks. Three tanks- the combat cars, mortars. Notable exception of 2nd platoon.

I think smashing these all together would give All Ellowians, No Mortar, three tanks, as many munitions casters as possible. The concern here - >>4291270 with utilizing the armor and such will be noted. Equipment can be traded around if a unit isn't present at the scene.

As for what to do, to be finalized next, in hopefully shorter order-

>>4289811
Hit from one side, cut off from all others, dump all the gas and smoke in. Careful armor advance to support where needed.
>>4291177
Draw them out. Hit them hard, attack with most experienced element. Gas.
>>4291208
Attack from all sides- aggressive breach with the 4th with gear, presumably. Gas, gas, gas.

Good thing there isn't any foreign controversy to be had when you're using chemical weapons on deserters and mercenaries. Writing.

>>4292617
Very rough digging of foxholes, some improvised barricades. Not really anything significant enough to be called proper fortifications and more what they could assemble in a few hours and change.

“…I’ll get to it right away,” you told Maenesko, folding the files back up and tucking the lot into your jacket, “Would the penal troops truly sacrifice those being held as collateral for their freedom, though..?”

Maenesko shok his head. “They may have one justification or another. Maybe they believe they’re being fooled, or tricked by the state. Maybe they’re trusting that they’ll escape, or have escaped, and are sick of being used. Perhaps they think that rebelling is more important now. The Defense Party, the Military Council, the Kommissariat, they are quite unpopular inventions, Coordinator.” The Sublieutenant put his chin on the back of his hands, “The people are able to forget and forgive to some degree when victory and profit blind them to what was before, but there are always those who keep the motivation they had before. Regardless of their grievances, however,” Maenesko lifted his head again, slightly, “They have made their choice. Now we make ours.”

You left Maenesko with what he had said on the mind. You’d gotten the indication that he was dissatisfied with Netilland’s current rulers, but worked under them nevertheless. Now you wondered- did he work against them, as well? He was in close contact with the representatives of the UGZ, who most certainly had contact with the NLF. With the Netillian garrison largely replaced by your own Ellowian troops, that had freed things up greatly, but how much was prompted by the lowly Sublieutenant, placed in charge of this place to get him out of anybody’s way? Maybe you could ask him, but such was an extremely dangerous question for either of you.

It was a little heartening at least to suspect that maybe you had more allies in more ways than you thought.

UGZ-09 was practically emptied of its garrison and equipment as you had 4th, 5th, and 6th platoons assemble outside whilst the other platoons gave over pieces of equipment. In the end, every platoon had a munitions caster team and the new model machine guns from the other platoons, 4th platoon was given an extra munitions caster as Anya’s was appropriated (it had better not be lost, you warned- she’d carved her initials into the stock, even) as well as the body armor of the Stormtrooper spec squad. They didn’t take the submachineguns, though. The Twaryians submachineguns were far better favored, even if they’d likely expend all the ammo they had for them in the course of the coming battle. Tear Gas shells for the munitions casters had also been stockpiled. Von Metzeler was found, roused, as well as Krause. The Netillian platoon lieutenants would take charge of the camp and UGZ perimeter whilst the others were away, and they certainly appeared thankful for, for once, not being involved in yet another battle.

-----

When you had gone to the mercenaries to round out Von Metzeler’s crew, you’d asked the remaining Iron Hogs about something that had been on your mind, approaching them as they squatted in a circle around a low table playing what looked to be…some sort of tile game, with four walls and a center pile?

“…Excuse me,” you addressed the Iron Hogs, “I wanted to thank you again, for saving us. I wouldn’t have expected such from mercenaries…”

“Huh?” One of them looked up, bandages stuck on his face and neck, “Oh, yeah, sure. It’s why Hell Gitt’s Iron Hogs have their rep, y’know.”

“Hey, Vazci, that’s his nephew you’re talkin’ to, see?” Another, older one hissed.

“No shit?” the crewman looked back to you, “Never saw the guy in person myself, see.”

Back to the topic at hand, though. “…In honor of you and your leaders’ sacrifices, I want to give you all some compensation. I might not be the one handling the money, but I’ll certainly send a missive about that, if I can’t scrounge something up myself…”

“Poor Eakova, this was her first outing,” One of the crew sighed, “Still betting that fuckin Cockroach is just pretending like always. Last time I bet on him dying I lost a month’s pay when he stumbled back. If he doesn’t come back now he’ll really have fucked me.” Was it really appropriate to bet money on whether one of your comrades was dead? It seemed cavalier to you, but it was probably just how they coped with loss.

“Does the bonus have to be money?” the eldest one asked, a glint in his eye.

“…I suppose not…”

“Go and screw Anya silly, that’ll be good.” The eldest chortled, and you were terrifying unsure how much was in jest, “Half of us sticking out was because she was there, after all. Always have to look out for our own.”

“Stuff the puff!” another crewman shouted gleefully, “Stuff! The! Puff!”

A roll of your eyes. “…Monetary compensation only…”

“Just spread the word, really,” another crewman said, “That’s what helps us the best.” He drew a tile, and dealt another. A strange, foreign character was on it. “…Not just here for bonuses, right?”

“…Yes. I need two of you to round out a crew. We’re heading out on a mission…”

“Well, Hraes isn’t playing,” the eldest pointed to the one squatting behind him, who shrugged and stood up, “So what’s it gonna be? Next winner goes, or who’s lowest on points?”

“Winner,” one said, “Hurry up and deal, I have to leave quick.”

“Cocky shithead.” A tile placed down, then the cocky shithead knocked down his line of tiles. “Oh, go fuck yourself.”

“Count up the points for me while I’m gone,” the winner stood up to join you, “You all better pay up when I’m back.”

-----

Everything had been prepared- the last steps before embarking were those done in the new command tent.

Lieutenant Wielzci of 4th Platoon was as hard edged as ever, but Representative Rumell appeared distinctly uncomfortable. He wasn’t an officer in the army, but an elected official of the volunteers that had assembled to produce 5th Platoon, which until now had but served in the capacity as a police force and watch for the UGZ. They had done drills, but 5th platoon had not one man who had ever fired a shot in anger. They’d have to learn, though, if the Ellowians’ desire to fight for their country was to be effectively utilized by the insurgency in the future. 6th Platoon under Lieutenant Rybak had a different air than 5th. The same uncertainty, but with the apprehension of adventure. 6th platoon had been provided by higher command, and was ostensibly lined up to join Wladysaw’s gendarmes after they received a trial by fire with your unit. They had the properly monarchist inclinations, you’d heard- or at least, they showed it well enough to fool anybody watching.

For the armor’s part, gaps in the Strossvalder crew were patched with mercenaries, and you placed Von Metzeler and Krause in the X-51 and X-52, while having you and your crew in the X-20. It was an ugly vehicle, but when it did have the chance to serve, it hadn’t failed to do well. It would mean that you would have to trust Von Metzeler and Krause to eliminate the actual enemy tanks, since the X-20’s rapid fire cannons were means for unarmored or very lightly armored targets.

All involved officers were gathered, with their NCOs, to attend the main briefing. A mock-up of the aerial photographs you’d been given was drawn on a large slate, which you pointed to with a stick as you laid out the situation….

>Attack from all sides as quickly and suddenly as possible. Evenly disperse your armor support, aim to keep up pressure while 4th platoon makes the primary assault. (State what angles of approach and whose tank is with who)
>Lay a trap. Count on the enemy being overconfident- draw them out with one platoon, and once they’ve been lured out of their camp, assault with 4th platoon and back up the bait with the rest of your forces. (Also keeping it to one of your tanks for each platoon)
>Keep the armor in reserve and make a more conservative attack- ensure everybody’s in position, cut off angles of retreat and deal with threats as they appear, 4th platoon making the assault after everybody’s in place.
>Other?

Of course, all plans involve copius amounts of smoke and gas. Your platoons are properly equipped to not be vulnerable to their own chemical weaponry.
Map is here, for quick re-reference->>4289740

>>4294251
>Keep the armor in reserve and make a more conservative attack- ensure everybody’s in position, cut off angles of retreat and deal with threats as they appear, 4th platoon making the assault after everybody’s in place.

>>4294251
>>Attack from all sides as quickly and suddenly as possible. Evenly disperse your armor support, aim to keep up pressure while 4th platoon makes the primary assault. (State what angles of approach and whose tank is with who)
Split 4th between northeast and east entrances, 5th takes the west, 6th the south. Krause and Rondo with 4th us with 5th.

>>4294251
>Other
Attack from all sides but keep the armour in reserve.

>>4294331
This.

>>4294251
>>Lay a trap. Count on the enemy being overconfident- draw them out with one platoon, and once they’ve been lured out of their camp, assault with 4th platoon and back up the bait with the rest of your forces. (Also keeping it to one of your tanks for each platoon)

>>4294251
>Lay a trap. Count on the enemy being overconfident- draw them out with one platoon, and once they’ve been lured out of their camp, assault with 4th platoon and back up the bait with the rest of your forces. (Also keeping it to one of your tanks for each platoon)

>>4294251
>Lay a trap. Count on the enemy being overconfident- draw them out with one platoon, and once they’ve been lured out of their camp, assault with 4th platoon and back up the bait with the rest of your forces.
Keep the tanks hidden or they might not take the bait.
Attacking from all sides with inexperienced troops will lead to friendly fire for sure. And a conservative attack sounds too slow, not what we need when there are hostages to consider.

>>4294251
Aslo I think Richter knows, but still, we have to provide our troops with identifying marks because the penals assumedly have the same uniform.

>>4294296
Running down the road trying to lighten the load

>>4294274
Take it easy, take it easy

>>4294331
>>4294371
Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy

>>4294613
>>4294698
>>4294875
Don't even try to understand, Just find a place to make your stand.

Writing.

>>4294878
Funnily enough, while Penal Troops have the same uniform as Netillian Troops, Ellowian Combined Infantry have different uniforms to normal Netillians, and a broad grey identifying stripe on normally black helmets. It might have been troublesome with particular inclusion of Netillians a few of which I forgot to mention might be along with the inclusion of scouts but a few are easier than many.

>>4294889
By the way, I think we should directly lead the 5th Platoon. They're in the biggest need of strong leadership.

“…This is how we are going to approach the situation,” you said, after laying out the initial conditions- who you were fighting, their expected numbers and equipment, their activities, the presence of potential noncombatants, “It’s doubtful that this bunch will do aught but fight us from behind fortifications and stay on the defensive, or try and flee, unless they can win the fight. That’s why we need the initial platoon to act as bait. Our armor will be holding back initially, to try and draw them in- they won’t try and initiate a fight if they see how much we truly have.” You pointed to the northeast part of the map, a section of thick woods, too thick for panzers to properly maneuver or even traverse safely. 5th and 6th would be coming from the south and west, roughly. “Once they come out in force, 4th platoon, with the support of my tank, will storm the base. We’ll secure the hostages…and afterwards, clean up what’s left. If the armor comes for you, the tanks will advance to deal with them…”

Representative Rumell had tightened into himself and scratched his wrists- he very much had the demeanor of somebody blindsided by actually having to do something, and not something they expected. “You want us to play as bait to tanks?” He coughed out in a nervous sputter.

“…Yes…” you said patiently, “The terrain isn’t good for tanks without infantry support. Visibility is poor. So long as you keep in cover, they won’t be able to engage you effectively, at least, not before my own tanks come to reinforce you, as well as 6th platoon…”

“Why the cowering attitude?” Rybak spat accusatorily at Rumell, “What are they to us? Don’t you trust the rest of us?”

“If you’re so eager,” Rumell said back defensively, “Then why don’t you volunteer to be tank bait?”

Rybak blanched some at that, but bit it down. “Fine! Coordinator, I volunteer that 6th platoon takes the position planned for 5th, this operation.”

You fought back the temptation to sigh. It didn’t actually matter who was the “bait,” just that somebody was. If he wanted to volunteer… “…Then you may. Sure. Are there any other objections? Questions..?”

Wielzci just spoke his mind, rather than raising his hand or anything. “The enemy has armor superiority. Are you sure you don’t want to bring all the tanks?”

“…The one remaining required repairs to its armament,” you said, “I do not want to spend fuel reserves on a vehicle that cannot fight properly. In this close terrain, munitions casters should be very effective against the armor, besides…the tear gas is able to get into the air systems of the tanks, and potentially incapacitate the crew, not to mention the effects of explosive shells upon the light armored cars…”

“I noticed also,” Wielzci continued, “That you’ve graced us with the presence of a few Netillians from the patrols?”

“…Right, yes,” you forgot about them, and appreciated the reminder, “The people from the UGZ and from urban Ellowie might not have the knowledge of forested terrain that the Netillians in the unit do. I thought they would appreciate the help…”

Wielzci nodded, leaned over towards Rumell, “That’s why, Representative.”

“Hmph.” Rumell withdrew into himself more and shifted uncomfortably, “Don’t trust ‘em.”

“…Well, don’t shoot them, they’re there to help you. Tie white bandages around their arms so you can tell them apart, or something…” Another look about, for more questions. None. “Alright. Have your men ready in twenty minutes. We leave at the turn of the hour…”

-----

“Back in the saddle, commander?” Stein asked as you assumed your place at the commander’s seat, “Good to have you back.”

“Thaetye’d leevas,” Jorgen added half-coherently, “Waed’ve to geddesed te gerlstenk.”

“…Sure,” you agreed to…something, as you hooked yourself into the tank intercom. “Hans, get us on platoon net…Von Metzeler and Krause are going to be our links to the other platoons.” The best communication technology platoons had were field telephones at best, and you weren’t bringing them this time. They’d be communicating with designated runners. Coordination would be a combination of them and the radio network that linked your tanks. “Tell Krause to tell Wielzci lead us off. The tanks will be in the rear. We’ll split when we’re a klick and a half away if there’s no signs of patrols past that…”

“Roger that, boss,” Hans’s voice came back over the intercom, “Hey, I think Mal has a little bit left of that stuff from last night. Want to hit that? You were a bucket of fun while on that shit.”

“…I’m not touching whatever that was ever again,” you declared in a stubborn scowl, “Get that command out. We’ll have plenty of time to chatter on the road…”

Talk veered into drugging you without your knowledge, and speculation on the rash of abductions of red headed women, before you thought better of unguided chatter. There was plenty on your mind, and eventually you set down your headset and listened to the wind outside the tank, leaning over the edge of the cupola. What did you have to clear up before tomorrow? You’d win- you had to, even if it meant calling in an invaluable, irreplaceable favor, and in a way making, say a final letter to your fiancée, felt like admitting defeat.

You hadn’t received one letter from Maddalyn, though you doubted that this was for any reason but that the Intelligence Office blocked any contact into their operations. What a relief it would be to be loose of their grip for just a little while, to join with the Silver Lances. Though, that was yet more time away, and time you’d potentially be separated from your comrades. Would Von Metzeler be too wounded to be allowed? Had he been extended the same offer by the Major, and refused? What about Krause? What about Anya, who had told you that as long as she deemed you needing of protection, she refused to leave your side? She could get better before Alpha Two, you supposed, and it was your right as a noble to bring your retinue wherever you went, but…

Maddalyn hated Anya. Would she tolerate her continued presence near you? She certainly wouldn’t tolerate the baseless rumors. Maybe it was for the best that Anya would wander off after you weren’t in danger anymore- when you were out of any situation you wanted to keep Maddalyn far away from.

Maybe after Alpha Two the Intelligence Office would give you a nice, long break. You could visit Von Metzeler, meet his fiancée that he’d picked up, Krause as well. Do your best to get the first of what you intended to be many new members of your family out of Maddalyn. Try to help your parents put Hilda on her feet. Maybe she could continue to inhabit the house and stay in your room. It would put a bad taste in your mouth to let her go off into the world on her own, and also a single mother.

Should a dead man be making such elaborate plans for the future?

Well, you weren’t dead yet.

-----

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“We’re at the breakoff point, boss,” Hans said to you over the headset, placed back on again when you entered the forests some ways back. “The old spring, or whatever it was.”

“…Alright. Driver, keep us going north…”

The woods began to properly thicken, and the pace slowed even though the ground was mercifully even. A section of the infantry was eventually tasked with finding a path ahead of time so you could keep pace with the march, and the other tanks reported a slow in pace as well.

Finally, a patch of forest where the infantry reported to you that you wouldn’t be able to follow. A decent landmark. You were at the planned position. The tank was turned towards the southwest, and you waited. The X series tanks were very quiet, but not so quiet that they weren’t still tanks. You hoped you were far away enough that no patrols, or the camp, might hear.

A report from Krause. Apparently, 6th platoon’s Netillian help had spotted the wreck of the crashed Autogyro. They hadn’t strayed close, but had observed that footprints led to and from it. So far, so good. You were in position, and lucky enough not to have any patrols stumble into you. If any patrols were being kept up. Though you couldn’t help but wonder about how quiet the woods were. Penal troops weren’t the best disciplined troops, you’d heard, to say nothing of rowdy Sosaldtian mercenaries. An ear had been asked to be kept out for vehicle audio, and none was reported so far. Were the vehicles off? Or were they not present at all?

Regardless, the next stage of the plan was to begin. 6th platoon’s vital luring of the enemy. They were to…

>Make a ruckus of searching the crash site. Somebody would come around and investigate with enough noise.
>Bumble forward until they met opposition, then retreat. They’d pretend to be caught unawares- and unprepared.
>Provoke a response by sending limited teams up to take potshots at the enemy base. In initiating the lure, they’d make themselves appear weaker than they were to draw more out.
>Other? (Including any preparatory movements)

>>4295006
>Make a ruckus of searching the crash site. Somebody would come around and investigate with enough noise.
I'm afraid that green troops would bungle the retreat.

>>4295006
>Provoke a response by sending limited teams up to take potshots at the enemy base. In initiating the lure, they’d make themselves appear weaker than they were to draw more out.
I think if we went with the ruckus option, they'd send out a scout rather than the tanks. We need them to send out the heavy stuff first if we want to ambush it.

Alternatively, we could blow up the auto gyro, that might get a heightened response as well

>>4295044
Our primary goal is to save the hostages, not to destroy the tanks. As soon as the hostages are safe, the rest should be trivial.

>>4295046
Still, the more they send out to deal with the diversion the easier it will be to secure the hostages

>>4295044
+1

>>4295044
This, get 5th and 6th to find themselves good cover for the ambush

>>4295044
This. If they can see if they can snipe any of their commanders. Losing their leader may make them more eager to rush out.

>>4295106
Most people, when under sniper fire and without leadership, hide in any hole they can find and hope someone else deals with it. Unless they're crazy berserker fanatics, killing the leader will pin them in place.

>>4295044
This works, do both since we want to make noise and it will work better to catch their attention as they don't seem to have any patrols wandering around.

I am worried that if they are keeping quiet then instead they are preparing to break out instead of stay and fight. Or their vehicles really aren't there and we are too late.

Rolled 4, 7 = 11 (2d8)

>>4295020
>>4295039
Be loud and disorderly neighbors.

>>4295044
>>4295053
>>4295060
>>4295106
>>4295194
Send a few guys to shoot the place up and run back. Also blow up that plane thing too, why not.

Writing soon. Roll is for totally insignificant things. But each is a cardinal direction, north is 1, east is 3, south is 5, and so on.

Rolled 92 (1d100)

The plan of operation was one that guaranteed a response. Waltzing straight up to the first thing that looked like the current enemy, and taking shots at them, with a small portion of the platoon, no more than a squad. Either there’d be a violent response, or they’d be pushed out of their base by a foe that they outnumbered potentially five to one. At best, the resultant retreat of the weaker side would draw a confident enemy out. Were they supposed to let a scouting force report back with information about their position? Of course not. The worst they could do was remain where they were, sensing a trap, but that felt unlikely. This lot lacked the discipline, in general.

There was also the extra step of setting alight, if not blowing up, the Autogyro wreck. There hadn’t been an explicit order for such- apparently Netilland didn’t consider the designs for such to be something kept particularly secret, or perhaps its recapture was anticipated, but it was a step you’d have taken regardless.

“…Turn the engine off…” you said over the intercom. It wasn’t like you’d be doing maneuvering soon, and even a quiet tank engine was one still potentially to be heard by patrols. Best to keep as quiet as possible- to possibly hear any enemy before they heard you, even.

Waiting. Watching 5th platoon gradually leave your sight, to take up a position on line with 6th platoon. Then, cracks to the north. Immediate pops and cracks in response. 6th Platoon’s lure, getting on with their provocation. Ideally they’d have picked targets well, but with the combination of the enemy here being a band of deserters that weren’t necessarily distinctively marked and Sosaldtian mercenaries, who saw adhering to uniformity as an offense against their character, as well as 6th platoon being more or less raw recruits who would have difficulty with particular marksmanship, you’d be thankful if they just did their job.

…My, that was a lot of fire coming back their way. Enough that despite being a few hundred meters away, you were getting nervous. Itchy. Short of breath. Maybe you should have accepted some cigarettes from Krause after all. For now, you kept it together, but when it came time for you to advance…

6th Platoon’s advance party had certainly succeeded in stirring the hornet’s nest, but from your position back in the forest, you were blind to the situation as far as frontline developments went. Surely a runner would come if the 5th ahead encountered trouble.

POHM. K-POHM, POHM. There went the Autogyro, from the sound of it, though it didn’t sound exceptionally outstanding from the current skirmish brewing up. The smoke was certainly visible, however.

>Rolling for 6th's forward section's fortune. Every degree of ten above 30, they take a hit as they get the enemy back towards them.

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459 KB JPG

The fight’s intensity steadily grew, but you weren’t sure how, as you unconsciously huddled lower in the turret. Was the enemy reaching fifth platoon? It didn’t sound like there was as much fire as there should have been.

As if to respond to your thoughts, a runner came breathlessly sprinting from the front. “Uh!” he panted as he came up to the front of the tank, “There’s trouble!”

“…Trouble..?” you craned your neck out of the cupola.

“We didn’t get word from the other platoon they were heading forward. We thought we were waiting! Now their people are between us and the enemy that came up! It’s the penal troops, coordinator!”

A pause, then on the platoon net, you inquired, “…Krause, did your people tell you they were heading forward..?”

“They went forward?” Krause snapped back, surprised, “Damn them, that’s the opposite of what I told them to do.”

That answered that. 4th platoon would be heading forward towards the base as soon as this level of battle was to break out- you had to hold this enemy here now. That said, Rumell was clearly not acting on his own initiative, waiting to be told exactly what to do by somebody higher up the moment something required him to go forward rather than hold back and wait for it. Were you able to, you’d go out and take command yourself, but…you couldn’t. The thought terrified you. What if you were shot again? Here in the tank, you were safe. Secure. Well protected and armed, surrounded by your crew. Out there, you were naught, weren’t you?

>Tell the runner to tell 5th platoon to step up and fight. You’d be hanging back until you were sure the enemy was sending their vehicles.
>Take your tank and Krause’s into the fight, or at least, into positions to try and support it. They needed the backing at a time like this.
>Get out and try and take the lead yourself. The tanks could only be brought out at the right moment and you needed to make sure people were moving. (Will require a resolve roll)
>Other?

>>4296373
>>Tell the runner to tell 5th platoon to step up and fight. You’d be hanging back until you were sure the enemy was sending their vehicles.

>>4296373
>Get out and try and take the lead yourself. The tanks could only be brought out at the right moment and you needed to make sure people were moving. (Will require a resolve roll)
Just telling the 5th to step up will never work. They're undertrained, have poor leadership, and didn't sign up for this.

>>4296373
Get out and try and take the lead yourself. The tanks could only be brought out at the right moment and you needed to make sure people were moving. (Will require a resolve roll)

>>4296373
>>Get out and try and take the lead yourself. The tanks could only be brought out at the right moment and you needed to make sure people were moving. (Will require a resolve roll)

>>4296376
Get your acts together.

>>4296383
>>4296390
>>4296398
Get your act together.

Diving headlong into combat is different from diving in between your fiancee's thighs, despite it being a resolve roll. You've got 4 Valor, so you need to roll under a 40. Best of 3.

Give me those 3 sets of 1d100.

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>4296416
Critfail now