Jackbot: Partial Eclipse

This is Jackbot. It was originally posted to the MSPA FA forum in early 2010. Since then, it went on for a few months, and subsequently languished for over a year, due largely to a lack of good suggestions.

In early November of 2011, I decided to revive the topic. It seemed like a good time for it. I ended 'Obligatory Hot Springs Episode', and am now starting an interlude. The thread can be found here, and I will continue to mirror it on both sites as long as interest can be maintained.

The next five posts will hold, in order, the full posts of Chapters 1-4 with the 2.5 interlude, "The Arena Champion".

The sixth post will begin the interlude between Chapters 4 and 5, "Partial Eclipse".

Chapter 1- Leaving Home

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SpoilerIn chapter 1, we learned about Cog, and Gear. They lived in Silverhame, a small mining town which digs for rare earths, and they harvested the old battlefield for parts. Finally they got together a pair of fully functional fusion plants and thereby gained their own mecha. These mechas were swiftly put to the test when Silverhame was shelled by bandits.

Piloting the mecha with relative aplomb, Gear and Cog were paid well for their time, but refused a job before leaving Silverhame to get the totally sweet ride Gear won in a contest.

Chapter 2- Of Hunters And Genics

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SpoilerChapter 2 opened with hot hailstorm on mecha action. Getting the mecha in from the horrible storm surrounding Ephraim City at the time, Cog and Gear decide to take shelter in a movie theatre.

It's here they meet Dr. Elise Mordoba, or "Mordy". Mordy offers them a job, involving eliminating a nascent hunter-genic colony. Eliminating the front-guard, they head into the depths, where they discover the colony has taken residence in the ancient bioweapon, Jotun.

Gear destroys the hunter-queen with a well-placed sniper shot, earning her the title Avenging Angel.

Mordy confronts the mayor of Ephraim City with his malfesance, but the police are on his side, so they are forced to make a hasty retreat rather than stay and destroy the entire police force (A dishonorable act).

2.5- Interlude- The Champ

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SpoilerWe had a brief interlude in which the Arena Champion, Michael, the one responsible for saving the Federated Territories in the Abhorrence of Life Incident, going into a cabin and dealing with a corrupt marshal and a human trafficking ring.

Chapter 3- Dead Man's Hoard

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SpoilerIn Chapter 3, Gear, Cog, and Mordy happen upon a cabin where they will be staying for the night. Gear scents juniper incense and instantly assumes her father was there, and goes looking for a shrine, where she lights incense.

There she has MONSTER

CHILD OF MONSTERS

BLOOD UPON THY HANDS- Ahem! What was I saying? Oh, yeah. She enters a trance and comes to half an hour later, seriously creeped out, to the point where she insists on sleeping outside.

The lance did not fully figure out the mystery of the cabin, though they are fairly certain some shady, shady shit went down there, nor do they find any sort of treasure to take with them. They might want to visit it later.

Chapter 4- An Obligatory Hot Springs Episode

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SpoilerThe group enters San Peligro perfectly aware that there is a trap waiting for them.

Gear decides to go on her own to the Fire Temple, which she is somewhat aware is here.

In the meantime, Gear starts putting the moves on Cog. Cog eventually sees through such shenanigans (Much as he doesn't want to) and correctly identifies the false Gear as a robot. They quickly convince the false Gear, who they name 'Axel' for convenience's sake, to help them find the real Gear.

In the meantime, Gear attains the Enlightenment of Fire and gets jumped by Sprocket, who knew her father. She eventually manages to slay Sprocket, but rather than leaving a corpse, he instead dissolves into orange Tang.

Sprocket left other surprises, including a Marlowe-Dryden Security Net in the already geologically unstable Hot Spring Caves.

They eventually defeat the Dryden and refit Axl. Mordy and Gear decide to mess with Axl's core personality and hope that that changes her Motivation, which can only end well and certainly won't have any side effects.

And then Aegis Overlord Luna decides to orbital drop on San Peligro, because they're looking for a fugitive...

Fanarts:

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Spoilerhttps://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww18...onMech.png

tl;dr

Dramatis Personae
Gear

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SpoilerJACQUELINE "JACK" "GEAR" TEX: Jack has a mysterious father who seems very well connected- or quite rich. She used to be a mechanic before she became a Cavalier. She specializes in personal combat and sniping.
Currently: Insensate
Honor: 88 Avenging Angel
Lawfulness: 30 Lawless Ruffiene
Reknown: 33 Gear, the avenging angel
BODY 11 RFLX 17 KNOW 16 CRFT 17
CHAR 24 SPD 16 PERC 16 EGO 12

TALENTS
Tech Vulture - Increases chances of getting usable parts from things you blow up.
Sharpshooter - One shot is all you need. Increases DC of one-shot ranged weapons by 5.
Even The Girls Want Her- Flirtation works on both genders, adding half its skill bonus to your Conversation.

Skills
Initiative +6
Dodge +6
Stealth +6
Heavy Weaponry +5
Small Arms +4
Armed Combat +4
Weight Lifting +1
Spot Weakness +5
Awareness +6
Mecha Gunnery +2
Mecha Piloting +3
Mecha Repair +7
Mecha Design +7
Robotics +4
Flirtation +6
Conversation +6
Mysticism +5

EQUIPPED
Sniper Rifle: Damage 16 (AP), shots 7/8, acc +4, range 75.
Bayonet: Damage BODY+3, Acc +1.
[no armor]
[no armor]
INVENTORY
[SNIPER CLIP X2]
[ROBOTICS PARTS]
[MECHA REPAIR KIT]
[FRAG GRENADE]
[FLASH GRENADE]
[HOLDOUT PISTOL]
[EMERGENCY RATIONS]
[CHELATION PILLS]
[PDA]

Cog

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SpoilerBILLY "COG" CZERNOBOG: Cog is Jack's childhood friend. They've been there, done that, had gotten the proverbial t-shirts though. Cog specializes in personal combat and things that pur out a high volume of fire. He seems to have a Morale problem. Before he became a Cavalier, he was a handyman.
Currently: Working.
Honor: 88 Hero
Lawfulness: 33 Thug
Reknown: 33 Cog, Personal Combat Ace
COG
Body 11 Rflx 16 KNOW 16 Crft 14
Char 11 Spd 16 Perc 14 Ego 8

TALENTS
Tech Vulture- When Things Die, You have a higher chance of scavenging things from them.
Luck Of The Devil- When Morale is low, Critical Hit Chance increases. When Morale is high, Critical Hit Damage increases.
[REDACTED]- As yet unrevealed Talent. WHAT COULD IT BE :Itisamystery:

Skills:
Initiative +6
Dodge +6
Martial Arts +5
Armed Combat +4
Small Arms +4
Shopping +2
Awareness +6
Stealth +3
Flirtation +5
General Repair +4
Mecha Piloting +2
Mecha Gunnery +2
Mecha Artillery +3
Spot Weakness +2
EQUIPPED:
Drum-Fed Shotgun: Damage 12, Shots 28/34, Acc +2, Range 50, BV 5.
[No melee weapon]
Reflex Helmet 16/20 AP
Reflex Armor 14/20 AP
INVENTORY
[SHELL DRUM x1]
[MINIGRENADE DRUM x1]
[MECHA REPAIR KIT]
[FRAG GRENADE]
[FLASH GRENADE]
[HOLDOUT PISTOL]
[EMERGENCY RATIONS]
[CHELATION PILLS]
[PDA]

MORDY

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SpoilerDR. ELISE "MORDY" MORDOBA: Dr. Mordoba joined the lance in Ephraim City. She has been Trained by a Master in both mecha and personal combat and has a penchant for biotechnology and... odd taste in food. Before she joined the lance, she was a biotechnologist.
Currently: Mentally Exhausted.
Honor: 70 Ethical
Lawfulness: 40 Vandal
Reknown: 30 Dr. Mordoba, Ethical Scientist.
Body 14(+5) Rflx 16(+3) KNOW 18 Crft 18
Char 11 Spd 16(+3) Perc 14(+3) Ego 10

TALENTS
Trained By A Master- Increases damage when using 'barehanded' weapons (Fists, Feet, brass knuckles, etc.) May have other effects!
Tech Vulture - Increases chances of getting usable parts from things you blow up.
Biotechnologist- You Know Genetic Engineering. Bonus to dealing with biotechnology and generating status effects on living targets.

SKILLS:
Unarmed Combat +5 (16)
SCIENCE +7 (14)
Biotechnology +7 (14)
Robotics +8 (15)
Electronic Warfare +5
Spot Weakness +5
Awareness +6
Small Arms +2
Initiative +5
Dodge +6
Flirtation +2
Conversation +3
Mecha Piloting +3
Mecha Fighting +5
Mecha Gunnery +1
Mecha Artillery +1
EQUIPPED:
Dart Gun, Damage 1, Acc +3, Range 25, Special Know+Biotech vs. BODY+Resistance or POISON.
POWER FIST Damage BODY+4, Acc +2, Range M, Attached Customizations: Thunder Token, Hyper Capacitor.
Power Armor BODY+5, RFLX+3, SPD +3, 30/30AP
Power Helm PERC+3, INFOLINK, 30/30AP
INVENTORY:
[Robotics Parts]
[Sentinel FCS]
[Class 5 ECM suite]
[Class 9 Personal-scale Nanofusion Plant]
[Class 5 Internal Armor, Robot- 10/10 AP]
[Class 8 External Armor, Robot- 40/40 AP]
[EMERGENCY RATIONS]
[CHELATION PILLS]

Axl

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SpoilerFAX-04 REASONABLE ROBOTIC FACSIMILE "AXL": Axl just joined the lance after disguising herself as Gear. She still looks like gear, but seems to know what she's doing.
Currently: Rebooting
Honor: 50 Middle of the Road
Lawfulness: 0 Maverick
Reknown: 0 Maverick
BODY 20 RFLX 23 KNOW 16 CRFT 16
CHAR 10 SPD 23 PERC 28 EGO 23
TALENTS:
Robot Traits- Axl is a robot~! She can do all the roboty things! ALL OF THEM.
Sharpshooter- One shot is all you need. When attacking with a single shot ranged weapon, increase DC by 5.
Infiltrator- When subtlety is necessary, you've got the skills to supply. Bonus when acting in a stealthy manner.

SKILLS
Initiative +5
Dodge +5
Stealth +7
Cryptography +7
Heavy Weaponry +4
Small Arms +4
Armed Combat +4
Weight Lifting +4
Spot Weakness +5
Awareness +6
Mecha Gunnery +4
Mecha Piloting +4
Mecha Repair +5
Mecha Design +4
Electronic Warfare +7
Disguise +7
Mysticism +1
Robotics +7
Conversation +4
Flirtation +4
EQUIPPED
Laser Pistol- Damage 5, Shots --/--, Acc +3 Range 50,
Analysis Goggles- Spot Weakness +2. Integration: Spot Weakness +4.
INVENTORY
[Robotics parts]
[holdout pistol]
[Laser Pistol]

INTEGRATED PARTS
[Class 5 Internal Armor- 10/10 AP]
[Class 8 External Armor- 40/40 AP]
[Class 9 Personal-Scale Nanofusion Plant]
Backup: [Class 3 Personal-Scale Nanofusion Plant]
[Class 4 Myomuscular Fiber Reaction Suite]
[Class 2 Spinal Reaction Suite]
[Sentinel Fire Control System]
[Class 3 Cryptography Suite]
[Class 5 ECM Suite]
[Class 4 Stealth Protocols]
[Class 4 Disguise Protocols]

THIS IS THE FIRST CHAPTER. IT IS MOSTLY THE TYPICAL NAMING THINGS THAT HAPPENS AT THE START OF EVERY FORUM ADVENTURE, AND ALSO A TUTORIAL ABOUT MECHA COMBAT!

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SpoilerYou! Are an enterprising young person who has just had some WONDERFUL NEWS!

But before we deal with that! There are some THINGS we need to know about you!

Things like-

What's your name?

:> _:

Zoosmell Pooplord

Nice try, smartass.

The ancient and proud name bestowed upon me by my loving parents is Roberto Domingo Sanchez Don Juan Ranchero, but you can call me Jesus for short (pronounced hay-SOOS).

You're pretty sure Ranchero isn't a proper noun. And where's the secondary name? And why not- ARGH why are you talking about the proper construction of Spanish names in an MSPA DIE IN A FIRE

Porco.

Now that's just hurtful. Just because you put on some weight once in the seventh grade... *sniff. Sniff.*

Jack "Gear" Tex

Oh. Right. Now I remember. They call you Jack. Which you're kind of peeved at, since you're a girl. But you suppose they can get away with it, seeing as you're Jaqueline and all. But everyone calls you Jack.

Actually, everyone calls you Gear, because you go out to the OLD BATTLEFIELD and scrounge 'Mech parts with- What was his name, again?

[You have acquired a GENDER: Female]

:> _:

Farmstink Buttlass

... Either you need to be less meta, or need to have less of a scat fetish.

Freedy Johnson IV

Freedy? Did someone make a typo? And who would be 'the fourth' in this Podunk town? That's like trying to find a 2300-year-old tree in the middle of a wasteland.

Lance Goodthrust

Oh, he WISHES he could live up to that name.

Billy "Cog" Czernobog

Ah, that was it! Billy had always had "Cog" as his nickname, ever since you, apparently in the time when you were very young and don't remember, mispronounced his last name. You deny it every time the story comes up. And it comes up an awful lot. Like every time a MECHA PILOT or TRUCKER rolls into town and asks about it.

And yes, you are both perfectly aware of the irony of being called Gear and Cog.

Speaking of, you should probably tell him this excellent news! But FIRST!

YOUR ROOM
You are inside your room, on the top floor of your family's TWO-STORY JUNK SHOP. All around your room are MECHA POSTERS. There is a DESK, with a COMPUTER on it. Various SALVAGING EQUIPMENT litters the area. An PRE-WAR MILITARY BACKPACK sits in a corner, and will serve as your inventory. To the north is the UPSTAIRS HALL. To the east is YOUR BATHROOM.

:> _:

Quickly retrieve arms from desk.

You can't afford cyber-ware! And even if you could, you certainly wouldn't detach it and store it in your desk! Besides, you'd probably spend it on better augmentations than just the arms, unless you've lost one or something.

>Jack: Wear backpack
>Backpack: Serve as Jack inventory

The backpack's weight feels familiar to you, as you heft it and look inside. Huh, looks like you didn't unpack when you came in from your run yesterday. You check the contents.

INVENTORY
[3x EMERGENCY RATIONS]
[1x PDA with ADDED PROGRAMS]
[1x WATER FILTER]
[1x CHELATION TABLETS]
[2x ANTI--MECHA GRENADES]
[1x CHANGE OF CLOTHING]
[2x CLEAN UNDERTHINGS]
[1x TEN ESSENTIALS]
[1x SPEEDLOADER]
[1x SNIPER CLIP]
[1x SURVIVAL KNIFE]

Looks like everything's here.

You decide to check your email again just to make sure you've remembered everything. While you're at it, you [SYNC YOUR PDA]. You may do this at any INFOLINK-ENABLED DEVICE.

There are actually two new e-mails. Well, aside from the typical ENLARGE YOUR CANNON spam-type emails. You suppose some things never change.

From:Billy@Wunderkindnet.net
Subj.: Core delivery
Sent: About 2 minutes ago

Jack,
Have delivered the FUSION CORES we got from the Big Yard last night. Looks like they're two size 4s- they're ready to install whenever you feel like coming down to the hangar.

-- The Cog

Well, that's good news, but it's not the wonderful news. And you'd hardly need to tell him about it. But this next one-

From: <!-- e --><a href="mailto:Drawing.No.Reply@BlackwellHeavyIndust.com">Drawing.No.Reply@BlackwellHeavyIndust.com</a><!-- e -->
To: "Jacqueline Tex" <JTex@Silverhame.gov>
Subj: Results of SHIVA-II Drawing #436

To whom it may concern:
spYour ticket, #523156, of drawing #436 for a brand-new SHIVA II in our occasional giveaway has been selected as the GRAND PRIZE WINNER.

As always, the winner of the GRAND PRIZE must appear in person to receive the SHIVA II in question, or it will pass on to the next draw, after a period of one (1) month.

Please keep your winning ticket and take it with you to the main factory in Greenhill, as you will need it and a photo ID to claim your prize.

Thank you,
-- Seraphino Porco
Vice President of Public Relations
Blackwell Heavy Industrial Concern
"We love our machines so much, we positively GIVE them away! Learn more [HERE]."

You retrieve the e-mail to your PDA, and stand up. You'd better get down to the HANGAR, quick! But that doesn't matter, because nothing's gonna stop you now!

[Morale : 100% WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM!?]

*growwwowwr*
... Well, maybe SOMETHING.

[Hunger : 20% Yeah, I could eat][/QUOTE]

Deciding you should probably get on with it, you quickly grab some items from the kitchen. A couple sausage links- those fully cooked ones that you can eat cold- a couple slices of cheese, some fresh fruit.

You start eating them on the way down the [ELEVATOR] to the [UNDERGROUND HANGAR], which is where your family keeps the mecha on sale as well as all the salvage jobs and repair work. Unsurprisingly, there's really only one mecha that's really fully operational and "On Sale". You've checked it on Infolink, you're offering it at half list price. Of course, only really big corporations and maybe the Solar Navy could afford an OGRE... And they generally have better artillery platforms. So it sits gathering dust, in pieces.

As you finally hit the bottom of the hangar, Cog is there to greet you. "Little late getting up this morning, Jack?"

"Never mind that," you say, taking a bite out of the sausage. "Take a look at this."

You show him the [MESSAGE FROM BLACKWELL HEAVY INDUSTRIAL].

He whistles. "A Shiva, huh? Well, I don't want to bother with Blackwell, I'd rather take a Greensec Corporation 'Mech."

Ah, yes. The Greenzone Security Initiantive. They do a lot of good work based on the old Pre-War designs. Some of the stuff is actually surprisingly up-to-date, even now. "Let me guess, Cog- you decided most of the other 'mechs weren't worth it."

Cog nodded. "Yeah. I've narrowed the choices down to these five." He hands you his PDA. "You pick one, and I'll pick one."

The first one is the [YORKE]. Primary armament appears to be some kind of LASER CANNON, though it has a FIELD ARTILLERY PIECE and a backup ANTI-MISSILE VULCAN CANNON. Very well-rounded. Even you admit this is a decent choice; it's a standard mecha still used by law enforcement. It's the only model here to have the WHEELED MODE option, which allows it to SKATE instead of RUN.

The second is the [PATTON]. It seems to have a lot of big guns, and a lot of space for extra big guns. the centerpiece is the PAIR OF 200 MM MORTARS. You're pretty sure that if you don't pick this, Cog might. Big, a little sluggish in the controls as might be expected, but has enough firepower to take down just about anything, and it does have plenty of armor.

The third is the infamous [NAPOLEON]. The smallest Size 4 mecha on the market, the Napoleon earns its name by being tiny and massive. It's built to slam and take down other mecha, and is terrifyingly good at its job, including several BEAM KHATARS and a HEAT AXE to bring bigger things 'down to size'. It has no ranged options.

Next, there's the [SIMON]. This speedy little bastard is the 'fencer' to the Napoleon's berserker. Light on its proverbial feet, this is probably the fastest of the selections- at least in terms of pure maneuverability. Armed with a HEAT HALBERD and its devastating, if disappointingly short-range, FLECHETTE CANNON, it can advance on many heavier mecha and lay them to waste.

Finally, there's the [BURNS]. You've always had a thing for this model. Maybe it's just the connection with snipers. It uses a SHOULDER-MOUNTED 150MM RAILGUN to lay down ACCURATE, ARMOR-PIERCING fire. It also has a backup RAPID-FIRE 80MM CANNON, though this is DIFFICULT TO AIM. It's actually remarkably maneuverable. It has weaknesses- LOW VOLUME OF FIRE, and LIGHT ARMOR, to name two- but when you can knock an OGRE to the scrapyard, what's to complain about?

Make your choice.

_________________


You look them over, dithering between the YORKE and the SIMON for a while, before settling on the SIMON.

The SIMON is middling tall for a Size 4 'Mech, at about three and a half stories. It has a head, but the cockpit is in the torso compartment, generally a mark of Post-War modifications to Pre-War 'cockpit in head' designs.

As you're installing the power core, you think it prudent to check the other systems. At least the motive systems seem to work out okay, and a brief check at dock power proves the control systems are fine. The radiation seal is completely intact, and that's really all you need to know.

The HEAT HALBERD is not quite an energy weapon, but it still tears things apart in MELEE. It also has REACH.

The FLECHETTE CANNON is a SHORT RANGE ENERGY WEAPON. Think of something like a sawed-off flack cannon using plasma instead of lead. It has a decent RATE, but the HEAT LOAD is absolutely terrible- if you want to use this for any appreciable length of time, you'll need to find a way to install more heat sinks or spend all your time underwater.

As you suspected, Cog selected the PATTON. He's always had a thing for artillery. Men and their explosions...

You may now control either-

A rumble shakes the underground garage to its foundations!

You're being shelled!

You quickly power on the SIMON, the HUD running through the checklist as the cockpit closes in around you. You get your hands into the CONTROL DOCKETS.

So this is what it feels like...

SEAL. . . . CHECK
MOHYDRA . HECK
LIFE SUPPORT ONLINE
FUSION DRIVE ONLINE
STARTING HUD... OK!

You see the OK blink three times quickly before the garage is presented to you again. You open up a line to YOUR PARENTS.

"Mom! Dad! Open the gate, I'm going to fight!"

"WHAT?"

You start to move the SIMON. Huh. Not bad. You had expected the vibrations to be a lot worse than this. "It's the bandits again, right? And I have a mech now, right?"

"Oh, honey, please don't tell me-"

You can hear Cog joining you on the horn. "I hearby swear to uphold the Common Code of the Cavalier. Finish the job. Fight injustice."

The Gate is opening for you. You both get to the Elevator.

"To Remember my roots." The Elevator, in Emergency mode, moves a lot faster than you expect. You're suddenly glad you strapped in. Both you and Cog step out. "And treat your mecha with respect!"

[You have gained PERSONAL STAT: Honor]
[You have gained PERSONAL STAT: Reknown]
[You have gained PERSONAL STAT: Lawfulness]

COMBAT BEGINS
You are standing just outside town.
Cog is right next to you.
You, the player, may now control both Gear and Cog.

SIMON- Size 4 close combat mech
[ARMOR: 100%- CONDITION GREEN]
[MANEU: 100%- MOVE MOVE MOVE]
[SENSO: 100%- I can see clearly now~]
[HEAT: 20%- Operational standard heat. All systems OK]
[Heat Halberd: READY]
[Flechette cannon: READY]
[Fists: OPERATIONAL]

Pilot: JACQUELINE "GEAR" TEX
[Morale: 80% A little nervous...]
[Stamina: 100% LET'S DO THIS]
[Mental: 100% Ready!]
[Health: 100% Fighting trim!]
[Honor: 50% Where will your legs take you, Cavalier?]
[Reknown: 0 "Gear who?"]
[Lawfulness: 50% Whose side are you on again?]

PATTON- Size 4 artillery mech
[ARMOR: 100%- CONDITION GREEN]
[MANEU: 100%- MOVE MOVE MOVE]
[SENSO: 100%- I can see clearly now~]
[HEAT: 20%- Operational standard heat. All systems OK]
[200 MM Mortar- Loading]
[80 MM Machine Gun- READY]
[Arm-mounted AAMissile Pack- READY]
[RArm-mounted 130 MM cannon- READY]
[Torso- 2x 30MM Antimissile AEGIS- READY]

Pilot: BILLY "COG" CZERNOBOG
[Morale: 81% Not our first combat...]
[Stamina: 100% Throw anything at me]
[Mental: 100% Calm. Cool. Collected. ]
[Health: 100% Let's go.]
[Honor: 50% Where will your legs take you, Cavalier?]
[Reknown: 0 "Cog who?"]
[Lawfulness: 50% Whose side are you on again?]

Cog> quickly, before the elevator reaches the top, fire on the ledge before the elevator, you want to make the coolest entry ever! also it will provide some visual cover but loosing yourself the element of surprise, which you didn't have in the first place with this slow, loud elevator.

Problem: That would damage the town!

You really don't want to break the Common Code less than five minutes after you swore to uphold it.[/QUOTE]

Either Pilot> Request some positioning of the opponent, you at least want to know which way you should be aiming.
Gear> try to leap out before the elevator fully raises, you can either get the drop on them or draw the bead off the elevator entrance.

Well, you don't have jump jets, but you still use the ledge to haul yourself out; surprisingly, you're not getting much fire on your position.

However, it does look like there are some fresh craters near the SHERIFF'S.

Speaking of, the Sheriff is now on your comms. "Who? Cavaliers?"

"Yes," Cog responds. "Where's the enemy?"

"What? Cog? What's- Screw it, I'll figure it out later. You've got the job! They're about two klicks from your position- to the east. I'll lay covering fire when I can, but I'm pinned behind a hill right now- DAMMIT I'LL TALK LATER-"

The sheriff's comm cuts out. East is directly away from the town- small favors.

:> _:

Gear>find cover
Cog> get a sight lock on the opponent
Adventure> be posted on by someone other that me or the author.

Gear doesn't need to find cover, the enemy is over the horizon!

However, Cog does manage to note five Class 3 reactors two clicks east on his sensors, as well as a Class 4. Looks like the sheriff's getting mobbed. You'll have to get closer if you want visual confirmation, though.

[Cog's AWARENESS increases!]
[Shoulder-mounted 200MM Mortars- LOADED]

Stealth your way to the enemy position.

You both agree to cut off communications and try and approach from the ridge. At this distance, they won't be able to see you easily. Cog's PATTON simply is not as fast or maneuverable as a SIMON, though, and Gear gets to the ridge well ahead of him. Cog is in the cover of the FOREST right now, but that might change at any moment.

None of them have split off to go after Gear's SIMON, though.

[Gear's STEALTH increases!]
[Gear's ECM skill increases!]
[Gear's AWARENESS increases!]

You have visual confirmation on the enemy. The Sheriff's YORKE looks like it has taken quite a pounding, but it's on the run in SKATE MODE and occasionally getting a shot off.

The five Class 3 mechs reveal themselves to be three CLAYMORE humanoid mechs, and a pair of artillery platform zoanoids usually known by MASTIFF. The CLAYMOREs are the ones in pursuit if the sheriff, keeping him away from the Mastiffs, which seem to be trying to land a shot with the BACK-MOUNTED ARTILLERY.

[Objective updated: Protect the SHERIFF and defeat 5*BANDITS]

:> _:

Gear> set yourself up to blindside one of the Masstifs
Cog> get the lead out

They're a little far off, but you wait until the Claymores are drawn opposite the ridge. Maybe the Sheriff knows you're there?

Gear: Get out your melee weapon and charge!
Cog: Once you catch up, brace yourself so you can aim your weapon (like a sniper)

Cog reaches the ridge just as Gear starts RUNNING towards the MASTIFFS. Gear draws the HEAT HALBERD. She cannot fire one of her FLECHETTE CANNONS like this, as it is installed in the FOREARM. The other one is still available though.

Cog adjusts his aim to go for the Mastiff!

[1x 200mm mortar- FIRE]
[1x 200mm mortar- READY]

BOOM. The mortar shell is placed neat-as-you-please on the stationary Mastiff's position. Its ARTILLERY is toast, and it now has only THREE LEGS. The second Mastiff got out of the way, though.

[1x 200mm Mortar- Loading, 4 rounds left]

The Claymores have realized the Mastiffs have been ambushed. Two turn around to face you.

Gear enters CLOSE RANGE.

:> _:

Gear HESITATES.

Cog HESITATES.

The Sheriff takes the opportunity to hit a Claymore in the back. An ARM is hit! The HAND and its attendant MACHINE GUN is destroyed! The BOIL-OFF deals immense damage to the Claymore's arm!

The Sheriff opens his comm. "Move, idiots! Are you Cavaliers or not!?"

[Cog's Morale goes down 10%.]
[Gear's Morale rises 2%.]

The Mastiffs start to RUN from Gear! Only one remains in CLOSE RANGE, the other is at MID RANGE.

You'd better do something, quick!

:> _:

Quickly run up to the closest one and take it down
Gear: Shoot the midrange one.

Gear closes to MELEE RANGE with the damaged Mastiff.

Gear attacks with the HEAT HALBERD! As it lacks one leg already, hitting it isn't much of a problem. Gear neatly severs A DIFFERENT LEG. A very clean cut- you should be able to salvage it later! The HALBERD will take a moment to READY.

Internal damage on the Mastiff has forced it to SHUT DOWN. 1*Mastiff eliminated.

[Gear has discovered a talent: TECH VULTURE- more likely to collect intact pieces from destroyed mecha!]
[Gear's Morale increases 2%. Current morale 84%- I think I've got the hang of this!]

Gear pivots and FIRES the FLECHETTE CANNON! It seems like a weak hit- the Mastiff's armor absorbed most of it. Maybe you should get in closer range?

Cog HESITATES again.

A Claymore FIRES at Cog! MISS.

[Cog's Morale drops 5%. Current morale- 66% I'm not so sure about this anymore...]

Cog: Shoot that midrange one quickly.
Gear: Hesitate for 10 or so seconds but go running after the midrange one.

Pilots cannot choose to HESITATE! HESITATION is a result of LOW MECHA PILOTING SKILL. A pilot without an assigned action will resort to DEFENSE or HESITATION.

Gear takes full command of her SIMON!
[Gear's MECHA PILOTING skill ->2]

A Claymore takes a pot-shot at her and misses.
[Gear's Morale increases by 2. Current Morale 86% - Are you even trying?]

Gear has closed in on the healthy Mastiff. She is now in CLOSE RANGE. Her HEAT HALBERD is READIED.

Cog>shoot the 80 mm at the Claymore that missed, he spooked you. once you regain your composure (be quick about it) finish a different Claymore off the the 200 mm Mortar

[80MM Machine Gun- FIRE]

Cog fires a three round burst at the far Claymore, and scores two hits, one in the leg and one in the torso. The LEG is DISABLED! The Claymore FALLS! The PILOT is now UNCONSCIOUS. Consider it disabled.
[Cog's Morale increases by 11. Current Morale 77% - I'll blow you away!]
[Cog improves the skill MECHA GUNNERY ->1]
[80mm Machine Gun- UNREADY, 21 rounds left]

[200mm Mortar - FIRE]
Thunk. BOOM. The Claymore that was concentrating on the Sheriff is now officially slag.
[Cog improves the skill MECHA ARTILLERY -> 2]
[Cog Improves the skill MECHA PILOTING -> 1]
[Cog's Morale is now 85% - Rallied]
[1x200mm Mortar- loading, 4xammo left]
[1x200mm Mortar- READY, 3xammo left]

At this point, I'll let you figure out the individual increases in Morale on your own. Each character increases and decreases in morale in different ways and differing amounts. In general, high Morale is good, low Morale is bad. 'Rallied' is a little special- it means it'll be a little harder to put that pilot's morale up higher. As you'll notice, Cog will tend to HESITATE more because unlike Gear, he had no experience in mecha piloting previous this combat.

[Back-mount ARTILLERY- FIRE]
The Mastiff tries to fire at the Sheriff! The Sheriff skates out of the way! *dodge*[/QUOTE]

a tally of allies and enemies would be nice if you can spare it.

Of course I can! Currently, allied in Green, Opposing force in red:

SHERIFF PARRISH
PILOTING: YORKE
[UNKNOWN WEAPON LOADOUT]
Applicable talents: SHARPSHOOTER- doubles chance for SPOT WEAKNESS skill to work.

BILLY "COG" CZERNOBOG
PILOTING: PATTON
[1x200 mm Mortar: READY] [3] [RShoulder]
[1x200 mm Mortar: Loading] [4] [LShoulder]
[1x150 mm Cannon: READY] [LArm Mount]
[1xAA Missile Pack: READY] [LArm Mount]
[1x80 mm Machine Gun: Unready] [21] [RHand]
[1xAA Missile Pack: READY] [RArm Mount]
[2xAntimissile Vulcan Cannons: READY] [Torso]
HEAT: 45%
Applicable Talents: NONE?

JACK "GEAR" TEX
PILOTING: SIMON
[1x Heat Halberd: READY] [RHand]
[1x Flechette Cannon: UNAVAILABLE] [RArm]
[1x Flechette Cannon: READY] [LArm]
HEAT: 50%
Applicable Talents: TECH VULTURE: Better able to harvest intact parts from destroyed mecha.

1xCLAYMORE BANDIT
[1x 80mm Machine Gun: DESTROYED] [RHand]
[1x Rocket Launcher: READY] [LShoulder]
[1x MIGHTY FIST: READY] [LHand]

1x MASTIFF BANDIT
[1x 180mm Cannon: Loading] [Back]
[2x Antimissile Vulcan Cannon: READY] [Torso]
[1x Heat Claw: READY] [LForeleg]
[1x Heat Claw: READY] [RForeleg]

Command? :> _:

Gear>stab dat shit!
Cog> is there a Claymore left? if so take that one out with the 80 mm to conserve the more expensive 200 mm rounds, if not > giant robot victory dance

COG: Aim at the Mastiff, but don't fire yet (attempting to SNIPE).

GEAR: Hit the Claymore.

[LArm Mount][150mm Cannon: LOCKING]
Well, his Machine Gun is still Unready, so Cog takes AIM with the 150mm CANNON.
[LArm Mount][150mm Cannon: LOCKED]
[Cog's AWARENESS -> 2]
[Cog's ECCM ->1]

[LArm] [Flechette Cannon- FIRE]
Gear opens fire on the last Claymore with the Flechette Cannon. The Claymore takes a torso hit! The increased HEAT causes an AMMO EXPLOSION! The Claymore is TOAST.
[Gear improves the skill MECHA GUNNERY ->1]
[Gear's Morale -> 98% THIS HAND OF MINE IS BURNING RED!]

:> _:

COG: Snipe at the Mastiff!

[150mm Cannon- FIRE]
The Mastiff takes a direct to its side, nearly knocking it over! The Mastiff recovers.
[Cog's Morale -> 86% Rallied]

Gear finish this with a combo attack Burning Heat Lance
(dramatic stab at the mastiff with a quick retreat when Cog blasts the guy to oblivion with the cannon)

[ERROR ERROR ERROR- SAFETY INTERLOCKS RELEASED]
Something strange is happening with the FLECHETTE CANNON in the Right Arm! The HEAT HALBERD becomes imbued with a higher temperature than its DESIGN CAPACITY! This looks like it might be bad...

[TEMPORARY PLASMA HALBERD- ATTACK]
Gear RUNS the remaining distance and while the Mastiff is still recovering, slices through the Mastiff's TORSO, somehow missing the cannon in the process!

Yeah, Gear's pretty sure that because it's cut in half that it's disabled.

Suddenly, a HEAT ALARM goes off in Gear's cockpit. [Heat: 70% NORMAL HEAT CAPACITY REACHED. WARNING WARNING WARNING]
[Gear's Morale -> 100% TAKE THIS!]

-- Combat over. MORALE partially reset. Victory!--
[Cog's Morale set at 84%]
[Gear's Morale set at 90%]

Sheriff Parrish exits COMBAT MODE, and opens up his comm. "Now, I'd like some explanations as to what you two think you're doing, please."

:> _:

>before answering, Giant Robot Caramelldansen.

Both of you go across the battlefield, exiting battle mode, and do some sort of odd hornpipe/jitterbug combination, the mechs going hand-in-hand.

You're about to turn it into a full swing maneuver when Sheriff Parrish interrupts you. "I understand you're giddy, but could you answer the question?"

[Gear increases MECHA PILOTING skill -> 3]
[Cog increases MECHA PILOTING skill ->2]

Both: "We heard gunfire and fighting way back home, so we got into our mechs and saw you in trouble. You know the rest."

"Your mechs?" Oh, god. You can hear Parrish's infamous RAISED EYEBROW TECHNIQUE from here! I don't think he liked the sound of that. "Last I recall, you two didn't own any size 4 mecha. You two had a pair of Bodybags you used to transport parts. Explain."

>Quick! Up, Up, Button, Button!

Neither Jack nor Cog know what the hell you're talking about.

>Um, is the axe still overheating? You might want to fix that or at least get far away from it.

The Simon's heat is at 68% and dropping; on closer inspection, the HEAT HALBERD still has some damage, but nothing a decent repair shop can't fix.

Tell the truth about where you got them (Personally, I think they're actually the parents' mechs)

I seriously didn't expect you to comply with the nonsensical ramblings i just said. anyways yeah, tell the truth and then tell him about how you did win a free mech. rules and restrictions may apply

Gear speaks up first. "We installed new cores in some of the old 'mechs Mom and Dad keep around for parts. I sort of figured they wouldn't mind."

"Did you discuss this with them?"

"Yeah, they sort of gave each other this stupid look parents do when they think you're being futile and said that if we ever found an intact power core, we could have a mech."

Cog nods. "That was the agreement."

"Hmmm. I've never heard a word of this. Do you mind if I come with you?"

>Salvage parts from defeated bandits, and that one with the unconscious bandit, might as well bring the whole thing home, and keep him for questioning or something

It looks like the Sheriff is already dealing with the unconscious one- You can hear the ambulance arriving. So Gear picks up the parts she managed to cut cleanly- an entire right leg, weapons, that sort of thing- and ties them down while this is going on.

Cog and Gear: Prepare scathing jibes for parents re: having found power cores and thus earning the mechs.

Cog starts to consider how he is going to do a SICK BURN on Gear's parents, but reconsiders. And his own parents own the weapons shop where they got most of their other stuff from, so that's really no good either.

Gear though, is trying out some dialogue. Guess what? We got Power now. Bwahaha- No, too villainous. Really, she needs a good one for this. Man, it's on the tip of her tongue.

In any case, the Sheriff hands the unconscious one off officially to the hospital and asks Gear and Cog to lead the way, which they do.

Gear and Cog get out of their mecha. Gear's parents' mecha. Whatever.

:> _:

Take him to where he asked, no tricks.

>And leave the salvage in wherever you keep that stuff

Well, Gear just tends to keep it in the garage to sell later. But whatever. You go upstairs- well, up the personal elevator- and strike up a conversation with Gear's parents.

"Tell me again why you two suddenly decided to be Cavaliers?" Mrs. Tex asked. "What made this shelling different?"

Oooh, Gear wishes she could come up with a SICK BURN right now!

> _

>"we've actually been planning this for quite awhile, it is only now that we have been able to do it!"

Gear laughs a little as she states this.

Cog just rubs his eyes.
[Cog has gained personality trait: MELANCHOLY]

Mrs. Tex looks at her daughter. Cog looks up at Mrs. Tex. "I don't believe this. You've been planning to use salvage title mecha as a stepping stone to become a member of one of the worst occupations in existence? For all the mecha on Luna, WHY?"

Mrs. Tex looks Cog dead in the eyes. "I want your answer too, bucko. I need something to tell your parents..."

Gear> "because I can't see myself doing anything different. i can't cook, i hate cleaning, I'm a terrible teacher, and fixing the small stuff that breaks every now and then is wearing on my nerves. I want to make a bigger difference then anything I can do here."

[Gear gains MOTIVATION: "Defend all innocents in the Federated Territories'']
[Gear's CONVERSATION skill -> 4]
[Gear has gained a personality trait: PASSIONATE]

Cog says "We're tired of this. Tired of dealing with bandits. With corrupt marshals. With having our efforts wasted on the next bandit attack. The War of Superpowers has been over for nearly a damn century but it feels like everyone's still fighting it! I know it was stupid for us to go out there. But we had to do something. We couldn't just watch and wait." He shakes his head. "Not anymore."

[Cog gains MOTIVATION: "Reform Law Enforcement in the Federated Territories"]
[Cog's CONVSERSATION skill -> 3]

[New Keywords: 'War of Superpowers', 'Motivation']

Gear grins. "Besides, being a cavalier is awesome."

Cog sighs.

Mrs. Tex sighs. "You always were your father's child- thinking maybe things will change." But she does seem to relent. "All right, Sheriff. I'm giving the salvage titles to them. If they want to leave..." *sniff. Sniff sniff* "I won't stop them, I guess."

[Gear/Cog RENOWN -> 1]
[Lawfulness -> 52]

The Sheriff nods. "All right, Mrs. Tex. No harm. I'll need my Yorke repaired..."

Mrs. Tex waves that off. "Leave that to me. Go on."

The Sheriff leaves.

"As for you two. Go. I take it the salvage is yours. I'll credit it to you. If there's anything you actually want to keep out of that mess, tell me now."

You did it! You're FREE!

:> _:

List of all the stuff we salvaged please. Also, I really like this textventure.

Certainly! You have collected:
[1x Class 3 Zoonoid Right Leg Part]
[1x 160mm Cannon]
[1x Mounting Point]
[2x 60mm Machine Gun]
[1x Rocket Launcher]
[1x Battroid Left Arm]
[Gear's MECHA REPAIR skill 5 -> 6]

Though you suppose that last wasn't so much a matter of inventory as skill increase. Whatever.

Ooo, we won like a contest thing for a really powerful mech at the start didn't we? Go get that.

Gear would love to! The SHIVA II is perhaps THE premier mecha for long-range engagement of enemy forces. Even those bastards on Luna and the fine specialists on the Yui Spinner Colony admit it. But...

Greenhill, is like, a thousand miles away. And Gear has to go collect it IN PERSON, in case you haven't forgotten. So no, she really can't go get it. Or rather, She IS going to get it, which, while tangential, is part of the point. It's even in the title!

Cog: "If you find out anything where these bandits were based, Any scrap of knowledge, tell us. It will be useful when we're more prepared."

Mrs. Tex nods. "You'd want to ask Sheriff Parrish about that more than me. And don't forget to pick up good gear from your parents too." She mutters something about saving her trouble.

:> _:

Okay, sort what quest stuff we need to do in order of priority, and any possible side-quests.

Well, you're not sure which are 'main' quests and which are side-quests. But you do put them down in order of urgency!

CURRENT JOB:
- None. Hrm.

URGENT QUESTS:
- Collect the SHIVA II, within 30 days.
- Get money, perhaps as you go, to afford traveling to Greenhill, where said SHIVA II may be collected.

LESS URGENT QUESTS:
- Gain Renown, so you can work on better jobs. Luckily as you take jobs and finish them, this will go up!
- Maintain the Common Code. This isn't so much a quest as it is a guideline, but you suppose being heroic is probably going to make life a little easier for you.

IMPORTANT, LONG-TERM QUESTS:
- Complete Gear's Motivation: "Protect innocents within the Federated Territories"
- Complete Cog's Motivation: "Reform law enforcement in the Federated Territories"[/QUOTE]

What are we traveling in? can extra parts come with or is it just going to be lots of mech walking?

Gear only has the two mecha she's got and a pair of bodybags- which is to say, open-top cars. So for her own peace of mind, she'd rather walk in the mech, thank you.

>Inspect the cooling systems of the Simon.Transfering the heat from one weapon to another isn't a standard behavior,maybe they are damaged and will fail at the next use of the mech.

Thinking of something, you go back into the garage and inspect the Heat Halberd and the Flechette Cannon, wondering how you that safety interlock could have been removed.

Cog has gone off to collect supplies.

[Gear checks Craft + MECHA DESIGN: Success]

Gear looks over the Heat Halberd carefully, as well as the Flechette Cannon. The main conduit for the heat halberd appears to actually be a plasma deload/heat sink for the Flechette Cannon- a quick look at the firmware indicates that this is generally not supposed to be anywhere near the level of an actual discharge of the Flechette Cannon, though. So while the Halberd is designed to take a lot of HEAT apparently the engineers didn't think it could take a full plasma burst from the Flechette cannon- and as you look over the Halberd, you absolutely agree; the damage was a bit more extensive than you thought.

tl;dr The good news is the Flechette Cannon is fine. The bad news is that the Halberd is most certainly not designed with a full plasma charge in mind and continuing to do something like that will probably cause it to explode messily. You still have no idea how the safety locks came off, though.

Sell the salvage you can't really use, and keep the rest (so you can have more weapons later).

No! USE EVERYTHING ON COG'S MECH!

Well, Cog's mecha is pretty full up as it is! Let's review this, it has, on its arms and shoulders alone, two missile launchers, a field artillery cannon, two mortars, and a machine gun. Quite frankly, you're pretty challenged to find a place to put a mounting point, never mind an extra leg and several cannons. And it would take days to install everything, especially that extra leg. Days, need I remind you, Gear does not have.

tl;dr Are you crazy? It has more weapons than GOD right now. You'd need to have like, some kind of crazy hyperspace mounting point or something, or need to be exceedingly careful. Gear doesn't have TIME to be careful!

So she sells the leg, the machine guns (which are pretty crappy anyway), and the artillery piece because Cog has one of those already and she wants to minimize cookoff damage. She'll keep the half-ton mounting point though- those are nifty for all sorts of things!

Your mecha are repaired.
[Gear's MECHA DESIGN -> 7]
[Gear's MECHA REPAIR -> 7]

Cog>plan a route to Greenhill, you want to stick to major trade routes and pit stop areas. the closer you guys travel to civilization the better you can protect people and the more renown you can get.

Gear: Start thinking about how you could repair the halberd. Perhaps you could install a cooling system inside the halberd. It would have to be extremely durable though. Maybe one of your parents' contacts knows a system or two that could do the job respectably.
Cog: Go to the computer and do some research about regional law enforcement.

Cog looks up things on INFOLINK about the Federation Defense Force and the Guardians.

> From what Cog can gather, the Guardians tend to make sure that the larger cities are well protected. Sheriffs are technically Guardians, though they don't have nearly the pull or support of a marshal; marshals are allowed to act independently and dispense justice as an answer to the less common, and usually more lawless Cavaliers. Many marshals seem to be beyond reproach, something Cog finds abhorrent as at least two of the local marshals are corrupt.

Now technically, there exists a sizable cash reward for a live corrupt marshal. The problem lies in bringing them in alive and being able to prove how corrupt they really are, because bad marshals do have the law on their side to kill those who threaten them. I mean, who's a court going to believe, the marshal or some idiot Cavalier?

> The Federation Defense Force is the Earth counterpart to the Colonies' Solar Navy and Luna's Divine Aegis- a military force designed to advance that faction's agenda abroad. However, most of the Federation Defense force is spread thin.

Hm. Actually, it looks like you'd get jobs more frequently if you stayed off the major trade routes, but word would spread slightly faster if you kept on them. You don't know which would be better, but you do know that the more difficult jobs, the ones you sort of already need to get known for, are in the bigger cities.

:> _:

Cog: "Well, they wouldn't believe me if I was just another schmuck, but I'd venture to guess that the government does have an anti-corruption task force; It's probably being hindered by the corrupted officials with people in higher places. I could change that though. I'd need to work my way in though. They're not going to let in any old joe. They'll need proof that I get the job done. Looks like I'm going to have to get the job done."

Cog considers this line of reasoning. Of course, there's always a more direct approach but that would be much less lawful. Not that Cavaliers haven't occasionally made careers and legends out of destroying corruption wherever they found it in service of the common man, though this has given Cavaliers a reputation for lawlessness, albeit with honor. Well, that and the drinking and other such things. Really, if it wasn't for the Common Code, Cavaliers would be as bad as the bandits and officials they take down.

Mechanics note: Honor and Lawfulness
Honor measures your adherence to the Common Code of the Cavalier. You get it by protecting innocents, finishing jobs and honoring pledges, occasionally taking charity work, saving people, and in general being one of the Good Guys. This even includes, on occasion, taking the law into your own hands, especially if the law won't touch someone.
Lawfulness is something entirely different, measuring your respect for authority, no matter if that authority is honorable or not. A propagandist in service of Luna's government may have high Lawfulness, but low Honor.

Cog has a lot of choices! Currently through sale of salvage and weaponry, you have around $10k to spend on equipment. Not a lot, but it should get you some necessities.

Jobs first. Renown can wait.

agreed, we need the tougher missions when we have the prize robot. it better not be pink.

Cog arranges a route that will take you off the main routes and on occasion, into the wilderness; there are several towns along this route. Barring mishap or taking a job, this route will probably take around ten days to reach Greenhill from Silverhame.
Is there any equipment on a personal scale you think they should get before departing Silverhame?[/QUOTE]

Cog: Take your computer. Take your gi. Oh, and take a few of your old stuffed animals that few people know you still keep.

[Cog's MARTIAL ARTS skill ->5]
[Cog's FLIRTATION skill -> 4]
[Cog's ARMED COMBAT skill -> 4]
[Cog acquires his LAPTOP]
Ok.

a towel, and some duct tape.

OK.

Your basic needs (food, water, etc.), and maybe a few personal-scale weapons.

Well, Cog and Gear already had personal-scale weaponry, mostly to take on genics in the old battlefield. But he does pick his weapon up.
[Cog acquires DRUM-FED SHOTGUN]
[Cog acquires SPARE SHELL DRUM]
[Cog acquires MINI-GRENADE DRUM]
[Cog acquires SWORD]

He also decides to buy some decent food and some good water now that he has the storage capacity in the Patton, and emails Gear so that she doesn't forget to properly collect her weaponry.

:> _:

Gear: Go get your clothes, your computer, your smartphone, all your robot pets who can also fight for you, and your backup beacon.

Gear already has her PDA!
[Gear acquires FANCY DRESS]
[Gear's CONVERSATION -> 5]
[Gear's FLIRTATION ->4]
Gear considers those ROBOTS to be largely failures, as they don't actually fight, but they do help as assays into something better!
[Gear's ROBOTICS -> 4]
Otherwise, your sundries have been collected.

>Gear: properly collect weaponry, and collect more food and water and such.

Well, Gear trusts Cog's judgment. But she does get her weapons from her room.

[Gear acquires SNIPER RIFLE]
[Gear acquires SCOPE]
[Gear acquires SPARE CLIP]

It's only early afternoon, on the first day.

:> _:

Cog: Go and tell your parents about where you're going. Research to see if the sheriff has any links to corrupt officials; If he doesn't, go visit with with Gear before you go. Mention about your goal to reform law enforcement because you're just sick of the corruption.
Gear: Indulge watching a few episodes of that tv series you like that takes place in some far future noir city. You want some relaxation before you go.

Cog looks at his parents. This might be the last time he sees them. "Hey, mom? Dad?"

"What is it, son?" Mr. Czernobog asks.

"Well, it's about Gear. We're headed to Greenhill and-"

"Oh, is that all?" Mrs. Czernobog says. "Well. Eloping was never my style, but-"

Cog blushes. "Mom, that's not it. We're going to be Cavaliers. We're collecting a mecha in Greenhill and then we're- we're gonna come back, and get rid of these marshals! We're gonna be back real soon, so... So..." Cog finds he is trying not to cry.

Mrs. Czernobog hugs Cog. "Honey. This town is doing pretty well for itself. Don't worry about us. We'll be all right. Go and be a Cavalier if that's what you really want. But don't settle for anything less, you hear me?" Cog feels tears on his shoulder.

"Y... Yes."

"Good. Mama didn't raise no quitter. Now go do everything you need to do to prepare."

Cog rushes off to talk to the Sheriff. He's pretty sure Sheriff Parrish hates the marshals as much as he does. So maybe he'll have some new information.

Sheriff Parrish looks at Cog. "You're here for information about the marshals, right?"

Cog nods.

Parrish shakes his head. "Nothing about that, but I do have a line on a bandit stronghold, if you're interested."

:> _:

Cog: You do? What do you know?

"What do you know about it?"

"I know I can't do anything about it. It's sitting in the wilderness about fifty kilometers from town, just outside my jurisdiction. It's north-northwest of here." The sheriff sighs. "I also know they have a Minofsky detector, so getting any closer than twenty kilometers in a mecha is impossible- at least, not without some really good ECM. I can't even get information about how many bandits are camped there." Parrish looks, perhaps for the first time in conversations with you, truly exasperated. "I can't do anything about it without endangering the town. But if, say, a couple of Cavaliers were to go in and raid the place, by walking..."

The Sheriff shakes his head. "Still, I wouldn't advise it. Not without some backup. And I honestly don't think you two are up for it yet."

Cog shakes his head. "I think you underestimate-"

"No, seriously. There could be anything from fifty to a hundred people who will kill you on sight. Don't risk it if you're not absolutely certain you can take them on. Get me, Billy?"

"... Yes, Sheriff."

:> _:

Cog:Clarify please, can we not get within 20 kilometers in a mecha without being destroyed or detected?

"Detected," Parrish replies. "But there's no telling what they'll do about that."

"How big is the fortress exactly?"

"I'm not sure, but I know that to run a Minofsky detector and other facilities that they probably have a generator or two." Parrish looks at you suspiciously. "I told you, going up there with the intention of taking them all on is suicide."

"Just one more thing, have they kidnapped anyone? Is there anything supervaluable there that was taken?"

"Oh, there's a reward out for them, but it would be wrong to tell you it comes to around forty thousand dollars; and that breaking the generator would at least halt a lot of their activity..." Parrish doesn't quite wink at Cog.[/QUOTE]

"Okay, thanks for the information. So let's say I destroy them at some point? Would you have information on corrupt marshals for me?"

"I'm not saying I would, and I'm not saying I wouldn't," The sheriff says, smirking. "But an upstanding Cavalier could well get information about that."

Gear: Remember the 'break generator' bit.

Gear isn't here right now! But Cog puts it down in his laptop.

Gear: Indulge watching a few episodes of that tv series you like that takes place in some far future noir city. You want some relaxation before you go.

Gear is, in fact, sitting in front of the television, watching Curse of the Idealists, a soap opera set Pre-War. *sniff sniff* Don't leave her! She may not be the best geneticist, but she loves you![/QUOTE]

Cog: "Well, thank you, sir! I hope to be seeing you soon!" Head home and start researching on your laptop about EMP non-nuclear weaponry. Research on kinetic bombardment too.

Well, after a bit of thought, long-range bombardment would be out entirely; there's only one mech out of the two of you that can get that kind of range, even with the right to bear arms.

On the other hand... If you could take them by surprise, in whatever fashion, you could probably get in and out before they knew what hit them. You know Gear has more skill with electronic warfare than you do, and the fact that she usually runs the sniper role when you're in personal scale means she probably is a little better at concealment and stealth as well.

Maybe it's time to get her opinions.

:> _:

Cog: Maybe you can get her to hack into one of the old derelict kinetic bombardment from the war; She could destroy the bandit rat-nest if she is able to hack into the satellite. She'd have to disable their monitoring systems so they don't abandon the fortress when the tungsten rod is coming down.

Cog>confront Gear with the Bandit Encampment, but be shushed because she is in the middle of a Curse of the Idealists marathon. man, didn't that show get canceled?

Cog heads over to Gear's place, where she seems to be in the middle of that soap opera she watches. There are only a few things that would move her from the chair at this point!

Luckily, you have the promise of two of those things right freaking now. "40 thousand. And combat. You interested?"

Gear looks up. "Did someone say money and combat?"

Cog turns off the TV and lays out the information the Sheriff gave. "If we had access to an orbital bombardment satellite like in the War of Superpowers, I'd blast them from orbit."

"Don't be stupid," Gear replied. "Old as it is, and damaged by the Cataclysm, it might just decide to drop on the town instead. Besides, I think the Spinners installed new AI to prevent people from wrecking the terraforming efforts. They've been working on it for years and years now, I don't think anyone can hack them anymore."

"Well, what about taking down the Minofsky detector?"

Gear laughs. "A Minofsky detector? We have one of those in town, it's child's play to muck about with those. In fact, I have just the things..." She produces one of her old robotics projects that don't ever work right.

"Oh, not that again."

Gear smirks. "They might be useless for most things, but they give off Minofsky wavicles just like most other energy generators. It'll buy us time if nothing else."

"So what do you suggest?"

"Well, like you said, there are really two ways to do this, both of them raids. We can raid without mecha, and hope we can get in and out before the main forces return, or raid in the mecha and blast our way out."

"Neither seems appealing."

"We can always just leave them alone, you know."

:> _:

Gear and Cog decide to leave it to others, or possibly raid it later if they get back before someone else takes action.

It is now late afternoon. Do you want to set out now or wait until morning?

wait till morning, that way you can get some sleep and be refreshed for the 12-hours of cockpit sitting that you will have to do tomorrow.

Cog and Gear shake hands and each goes home to get some rest.

Morning arrives. It's time to say heartfelt goodbyes and go, you guess. Gear looks at the rising sun out of her window.[/QUOTE]

>Ride off into the sunset.

You'd need to wait for evening to do that. Why'd you rest if you were just going to wait for evening? Besides, Greenhill is the other way, moron!

>Now we can go to greenhill.

Everything's packed up. Gear finds it odd that most of her most precious equipment fit into two duffel bags. Her room is now surprisingly bare. She takes one last look at the sunrise through her window, overseeing the little town of Silverhame, perhaps for the last time.

Downstairs, Mrs. Tex is already waiting for her daughter. The look on her face is somber even as she hands Gear the passkeys to the Simon and the Patton. "You could stay and protect the town, you know... Like Sheriff Parrish did."

Gear shakes her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't. Not and live with myself later." She smiles. "I'll be back someday. I promise."

"Your father said that too..." *sniff sniff*

"He'll be back. I'll be back, too. Cavaliers don't break their promises." Gear smiles, but is still crying. "I'll even bring him back, too, for a visit if I can."

[Long-term mission added: Find Gear's father]

The two mecha are waiting outside.

Cog hugs his father, and his mother. Mr. Czernobog harrumphs. "Go on. Get out of here. You've made your decision, right? Stick by it! That's the Cavalier way you talk so much about, isn't it?"

Cog shakes his head. "No, dad, that's still your way. Don't worry. You'll get it eventually." He pats his father on the shoulder. "Maybe someday." He sighs. "Still. Take care of Mother while I'm gone."

Mr. Czernobog harrumphs again. "I should be saying that to you! Go on." He smiles.

Cog and Gear enter their mecha.

Cog and Gear have left Silverhame.

END CHAPTER ONE- BEGINNINGS

THIS IS THE SECOND CHAPTER. It has hunter-genics in it, and a bit of explanation about the War of Superpowers.

Show Content

Spoiler

Open up with a great thunderstorm booming and pouring overhead.

Chapter 2- Of Genics and Hunters

Mid-afternoon, day 2. Distance to Greenhill: Approx. 950 miles

Location: EPHRAIM CITY

Ugh, this weather is absolutely terrible. You can hear hail pounding against the mechas' armor from here. Nobody in their right minds would stay out in this if they didn't have to, even if the mecha could take it.

Admittedly, Cog and Gear both do have to stay out here, and their sanity is arguable, given that they are Cavaliers and therefore may not exactly qualify as 'clear-headed' according to most people.

"'See the world,' you said," Cog mutters darkly over the intercom. "'Become well-renowned Cavaliers,' you said. I never heard anything about piloting mecha in the middle of a thunderstorm!"

"It's this or sit the damn things under a tree and wait to get struck by lightning. Come on, according to your navigation, Ephraim City should be in sight soon," Gear replies.

Indeed, you're starting to get a faint idea that there is a town sitting out there.

Ephraim City is not nearly as big as its name implies, being more of a 'large town' than a 'small city'. To be honest, it's not much larger to look at than your home town, Silverhame. Of course, that's because most of Ephraim City is underground just so it doesn't have it as bad from the tornadoes that crop up sometimes.

Gear puts out on broadcast, "Hello? Is anyone listening? We'd like permission to dock. Two mecha, class four, coming in from your west."

"Read you, Cav one and two. Docking bay is about five hundred yards ahead of you, opening the ramp."

"Roger, control."

Underground hangars are underground hangars are underground hangars, Gear can't help but think as she parks her Simon in the local Mecha Shop. This one seems to be a little better stocked than the one back home, though most of the mecha down here are being cannibalized for repairs.

Gear pops the hatch, glad to be out of the endless, incessant drumbeat of hail on her hull, if not the cold and damp.

:> _:

Gear: Get distracted when you remember the new cinema-simulation about a charismatic ancient egyptian chrononaut who brings chaos to wherever he goes has just come out today. Drag Cog along with you to see it. He has to see this.
Cog: Take a smell of the city in. You're incredibly glad to be out of your mech. To walk around freely, not just cramped in a relatively small space. Time to see th.... WHERE'S GEAR DRAGGING ME?!?!?! OH MY, OH MY!
Shadowy figure: Silently observe these two from afar. In sight of new playthings, grin maliciously.

Hey, that's right! The Unheeding Portal of the Void comes out today! It's all about this fallen Sun King turned to darkness by thousands of years of torturous slumber. Oh, and it has pyramids that turn into mecha. Really, you remember reading this comic as a kid but you never thought anyone would put something so silly on triscreen.

Still, this is a level of awesome you don't want to miss and seeing as you're stuck here anyway Gear figures she can catch it while they're waiting for the storm to pass.

In fact, didn't Cog like that series too? Gear gets a funny little grin on her face. "Come on."

Cog was in the middle of arranging a resupply when he suddenly realizes he's being dragged away from the mecha. Wait, what's going on now? "Gear, what are you doing?"

"It's Unheeding Portal of the Void man! You want to see this as much as I do."

"I do?" Cog hasn't heard a thing about this. He was never quite as into the comic as Gear had been, but now that he recognized it he started actually walking. After all, it isn't like they have anything better to do... Cog shrugs.

Someone is watching them pass! She licks her lips as she considers all the fantastic possibilities these two new test subjects offer. But first, the more pressing problem... She needs to find her lab coat. Where did she put that lab coat? She could have sworn she left it here when she'd decided to have some... Fun.

While watching The Unheeding Portal of the Void, catch a preview of The Masked Paladin.

(OOC: I'm not very good with explaining, so there's a weblink.)

COMING SOON
Aw, previews? Gear sticks out her tongue and doesn't pay attention to them. Instead, she looks to see if anyone else is in the theatre.

Hm. There seems to be a few people here. It is a matinee, so it's not many, but some of them seem to be around Gear and Cog's age- and, added bonus, at least three are all alone. Gear gets that wicked smirk on her face again.

Cog can already tell this might not end well...

>You left it over your shirt silly. :mspa:

>Which you left at home.

That's right, it's with your other shirt. Currently you have your white tank-top on.

... Come to think, what the heck are you doing near the exposed ramp! You don't want this getting wet! Well, not unintentionally, anyway.

Ah, that's right, those two Cavaliers that came into town. You wanted to make sure they were the right sort of people for the job.

Now how to manage that without being invasive?

>Why, illegal stalking of course! :apple:

Sprinkled with blackmail and garnish with a cherry.

>Start by following them secretively with your camera, that new fangled iSnap from Cherry, while muttering, 'hurry up get sexy,' and your ready finger over the 'take a picture' button

You don't know about getting an iSnap or anything like that; besides, they're Cavaliers. There's not going to be a lot of shock material there. At worst, it might give them a reputation for being randy but, well, they're Cavaliers- a group which does not, let's admit, have the most stunning reputation for being shining pillars of Absolute Chastity. Far from it, actually.

Still following them seems prudent, and you did track them down to the local triscreen, where one of them seems to be looking at the crowd with a... practiced eye.

:> _:

Gear: Try to drag Cog into your grand scheme of flirting with movie goers. Discover he's not at his seat and has sneaked off somewhere. Commence your plan alone.
Cog: Come back after some rather good relief in the bathroom; Be rather confused when you spot what Gear is doing.

Gear has picked out someone to flirt with. I mean, it's not a crime, really. And this is a matinee, so presumably whoever's here likes the movie, right? You reach to tap Cog on the shoulder to point out your target-

Hey. Where'd he go?

Cog washed his hands and looked himself in the eyes in the mirror. Ugh. His blackk hair is obviously a mess- look at this... And he spends too much time indoors- so pale. He sticks his tongue out- at least that's clean. He has no idea why people decide to strike up conversations with him. Or why Gear keeps trying to get him to flirt with people. It's not like he's that handsome or anything...

Cog leaves the bathroom.

Sneaky figure: Strike up quiet conversation with the male cavalier not knowing it's him.

Cog meets with a lady in the darkened theatre.

This lady carries a lot of gadgets, doesn't she? why Cog can see three electronic devices and that's not counting whatever is concealed in the pockets of her black slacks. Pinned to her white tank top in an uncomfortable place for Cog to stare is an ID badge, labeling her as Dr. Mordoba.

Dr. Mordoba clears her throat. "Hey, you see that girl down there?"

Cog notes she is talking about Gear, and nods, not that he has any idea what she's on about.

"Well, she just came in to town, and I would very much appreciate it if you could help me find things out about her." Dr. Mordoba shows off a little; after all, if you're wearing a white tank, why not flaunt?

:> _:

Cog: Be curious and suspicious about why she is asking; Don't mention who you are though. "Why exactly do you need to know? What use does she have?"

"Well, she's new in town," Dr. Mordoba replies, in hushed tones. "And she came in on a mecha, so I'm betting she's a Cavalier. And, well. I need a job done for me. But not just anyone will do..."

"So what are you planning for her?"

"I just told you. I have a job. You know. Money?" Dr. Mordoba smiles. "What are you, her agent or something? I just need to know what she thinks she's good at; once I have that I'll talk with her myself. It's not illegal genetics- just go and, you know, chat her up a bit."

Cog looks nonplussed. "Uh..."

"There's $300 in it for you if you manage it."

Cog gladly takes the money off Dr. Mordoba's hands, and looks her in the eyes with a smile. "Thank you."

... Dr. Mordoba finds herself blushing. WHY IS SHE BLUSHING!? "Ah, yes, well. Any information you can give me would be good."

Cog is wondering if there's something on his face. There isn't. "Well, seeing as I've known her for quite a long time, I think I know what she can do."

"Well. I approached the right person, then, didn't I?" Dr. Mordoba looks around. "I'd really prefer not to talk about it in a movie theatre while the movie's playing. Can we talk later?"

Cog does not understand why Dr. Mordoba is smiling that way.

"You don't have any idea who I am, do you?"

[Cog's Lawfulness-> 47. Really? Swindling a lab tech?]
[Cog's Honor -> 54. Hey, at least you finished the job.]

Dr. Mordoba grins. "I know you're her friend. Which means you'll inform her of the job. Which means you both may yet profit. But as for names, no, I don't know who you are. Or who the hell you think you are. Nor do I care, particularly. If you're decent with personal-scale combat, you probably have the qualifications."

>Before she goes, sloppy makeouts.

>Gear status. flirtflirtflirt

Cog smirks wickedly. "Fine." Cog leans over, gives Dr. Mordoba a quick kiss on the lips, then runs down to catch the rest of the movie.

Dr. Mordoba touches her lips. She's blushing again. This goes against all rationality! Cold, hard science and a logical mind are her only loves! Right? RIGHT!?

Gear is quite happily flirting with a prettyboy. Mostly, they're making fun of the movie and exchanging mecha talk, of which the Prettyboy is partly lost, partly hanging on Gear's every word.

>Come up behind the prettyboy and loudly tell Gear about the job you just got for her and you about fighting and/or killing people.

"Gear, We have a job!"

Aw, man, the guy's starting to make out with Gear. This could take a bit.

Or not, as she walks away, looking for Cog. Who is right behind her. Gear is startled. She smirks. "And why are you out of your seat?"

"We have a job. We'll get more details from Dr. Mordoba after the movie. For now, though, he's about to awaken the pyrimech."

"Ooh, pyrimech."

Huh? Pyrimec?

Actually, they don't go too over the top with the various special effects, but Unheeding Portal of the Void's 'Pyrimech' is actually called The Untrodden Glories of the Unconquered Sun. Of course, that's waaaaaay too long and convoluted a name to call it by, so most people call it the pyrimech because it's made out of an ancient transforming pyramid.

Gear may not know what those writers were on but damn if it didn't create glorious, glorious results.

The movie ends and Cog shows Gear to Dr. Mordoba, who now explains the job in further detail in a small place just inside the hangar and out of camera reach. "I should start with the introductions. My name is Dr. Mordoba, and I'm head of the terraforming effort here in Ephraim City."

"Must be hard with all the autonomous Pre-war tech around here..." Gear responds.

"You have no idea." She sighs. "Aside from just living in the complex, there's the problem of the deep biotech labs. Not long ago, the Mayor sent a lance of Cavaliers to try and explore those labs, despite my warnings. What happened was a miracle. And a disaster. Five intact Hunter-Queen biomonsters. All in pods. Again, against my better judgement, the mayor ordered them studied."

Dr. mordoba is tearing up. "As you might guess from my age, I'm not the head of the project because of my years of experience. The last head researcher is..."

>"...What? Dead, right?"

She nods, wordlessly. "They decanted one. And now... Now it's nesting in the Green Zone outside. It already took the life of..." It's obvious she can't bring herself to say the old head researcher's name. "And several others... and I'm certain it's laying. I need you to go in there personally and destroy it."

C'mon! It's your duty as a Cavalier!
>"You've got yourself a deal!"

[Cog's Honor -> 59]
[Gear's Honor -> 57]

"Very well. The mayor must not learn of this. We'll meet outside the entrance ramp just after sunset. Bring any personal-scale weapons you feel comfortable with." Dr. Mordoba nods.

Gear looks shocked. "We're not going in there with mecha?"

Dr. Mordoba shakes her head. "No. I found where the nest is... It's in the center of our Prime Grove. Stomping in there with 'mechs will set back terraforming efforts decades... but personal scale avoids some of the damage. If it's any consolation, I'll be coming with you, and know how to use small arms."

[Dr. Mordoba joins your lance!]

Current Jobs updated:Defeat the colony of Hunter-Genics in the Prime Grove of Ephraim City.

... Cog realizes that they just took the job without asking how much it paid. Ouch.

Pay is nothing! You're a Cavalier. Also, ask what Hunter-Genics are.

You know what Hunter-genics are.

Imagine, if you will, a genetically engineered creature. Not that far out of the realm of possibility- after all, biological engineering is at the center of the reconstruction. It's actually quite difficult in this day and age to find someone whose genes haven't been mucked with at one point or another. It's why Gear has purple eyes, for instance.

Now, then, imagine a such a creature, engineered entirely for one purpose- to be used as a weapon. Give it manipulators only as necessary to tear down doors. Let it expand and shrink its body to get into and out of almost any tight space. Give it armor suited to the best nature has to offer. Meld its organs into triple redundancy. Give it a mindless survival instinct, such that it will kill almost any animal that crosses its path. Make it able to metabolize almost any form of carbon for energy. Give it SPEED, speed to rend, speed to attack, speed to tear.

Give it a visage sufficient that it is still whispered of in horrified rumor, even now, nearly two hundred years after the last colony was deployed. Make it so resilient that even now, nearly two hundred years after the last colony was deployed, there still exist feral colonies. So far from human that it grows ever in the nightmares of humanity, a slavering, insatiable brood.

There is a reason the preferred method of taking down a hunter-genic colony is to bring in three Yorkes and laser cannon the things to death.

If this wasn't an absolutely new colony, Cog and Gear are certain this would be a suicide mission.

I wish I knew if that was a good thing or not...

Unfortunately, neither do Cog and Gear! Man, maybe they should have asked a few more questions...

But that's bygone time, now. They need to prepare. Using some of the money they already have, Ger buys two spare sniper rifle clips, and Cog gets himself a few more drums of minigrenades. As long as you're going in, may as well load for bear, even if it is something far worse than that.

In the twilight, Dr. Mordoba meets you just as promised. Or did she say just as planned? Anyway, she has apparently gotten her hands on some of the old powered armor from the early post-war days. It's not much against hunter-synths but you'll take what you can get.

The Prime Grove is not, as one might expect, an orderly little place. It's not even very little. It takes up about a square mile to the southeast of Ephraim City and has continued to grow since then.

No use waiting around here, you guess.

Gear heads into the trees.
Cog heads into the tress.
Dr. Mordoba heads in to the trees.

Gear: Climb in a tree and scout. See where the Hunter-Genics are if you can.
After this:

>stick close and tread silently, ambush is the worst thing that could happen right now.
Position yourself back to back so they can't sneak up on you.

Gear decides to run overwatch with her sniper rifle. She isn't disappointed.

*click. Click. Click. Click.*

She feels the reassuring hum of the sniper rifle gaussing up to speed. The scope and laser sight are ready. It doesn't take her long to spot one- Oh. My. Void.
[Gear's Awareness skill -> 7]

There isn't just one queen.

There isn't even one queen and a few drones. It looks like this colony has been here for a while.
[Gear's Morale -> 20 PANIC]

Gear fires the sniper rifle. Gear HITS a hunter-slayer. Gear has taken the slayer by surprise! Slayer has no defense roll!
[Gear's PERC+Heavy Weapons -> 28%5 = 5]
[Gear's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 28. CRITICAL HIT]
[Sniper Rifle is armorpiercing!]
[Gear has recovered a lost talent: Sharpshooter- One shot is all you need. With single-shot weapons, damage is increased.]

The hunter-slayer has been slain. Well, not so much slain as turned into an absolutely bloody mess.

However, it's unlikely at this point that you will be so lucky as to catch one unawares. The sniper rifle is loud.

Gear shouts to the others. "I thought you said there was only the queen! Why are there five drones and two- uh, one SLAYER!?"

"It's been three weeks..." Dr. Mordoba says, darkly. "Do your best!"

Cog feeds in a mini-grenade drum into his drum-fed shotgun. Please select his Burst Rate, from 1-5. Higher Burst Rates are more accurate, but will burn through ammo quicker!

Dr. Mordoba readies a strange device...

Gear: Try to take out a slayer. Or a drone. Whichever one can kill you faster.
Cog: Fire in the largest group of enemies to maximize damage.
Doctor Person: Stop being useless.

Dr. Mordoba is constructing her weapon as fast as she can! She'll be done in a few seconds! Egad! Stop harrying her!

Gear fires the gauss rifle. Gear successfully re-established surprise! Hunter-Slayer rolls no defense!
[Gear's Stealth ->7]
[Gear's PERC+Heavy Weapons -> 37%5=7]
[Gear's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 31 CRITICAL HIT+1]
[Gear's Spot Weakness ->6]
[Sniper Rifle is armorpiercing!]
[Total damage- 43]

Yeah, Gear's pretty sure he took out that Hunter-Slayer based on the way its body exploded. She still can't find the Queen, though...

Cog advances to cover Gear's position! Cog fires! THOP THOP THOP THOP
[Cog's RFLX+Small Arms -> 10+4 (BR) = 14]
[Hunter-Drone's RFLX+Dodge -> 18]
[MISS]

Dr. Mordoba's dart gun is finished, and may fire.

Doctor: Get close enough and fire the darts.
Gear: Re-establish surprise and shoot.
Cog: Do some cover fire for them.

Gear: Continue switching trees and sneak attacking, prioritizing based on deadliness.
Cog: Turn it up to five and continue firing.
Dr. Mordoba: Why didn't you prepare it before?!? Anyways, shoot whatever target Cog is firing at. It won't be able to dodge.

Dr. Mordoba doesn't like these baseless accusations! Why, the very idea that she might want to lead a pair of Cavaliers to their doom to study the laying habits of a Hunter-queen are baseless and immoral!
[Dr. Mordoba's RFLX+Small Arms -> 8]
[Hunter-drone's RFLX+Dodge -> 14]
[MISS]

Gear attempts to leap to another tree and re-establish surprise. She will be able to fire next turn.
[Gear's RFLX+Acrobatics ->10 OK]
[Gear's RFLX+Stealth -> 29-2=27]
[Hunter-drone PERC+Awareness -> ???]

Cog goes to five rounds a burst. He FIRES!
[Cog's RFLX+Small Arms -> 24+5 -> 29]
[Hunter-drone's RFLX+Dodge -> 13]
[Cog's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 3 NO]
[Cog's weapon is a blast weapon!]
All five grenades hit!
[18-10=8]
[13-8=3]
[8-6=2]
[11-4=7]
[20-2=18]

Cog is fairly certain he not only stipped off its natural armor, that hunter drone is very very dead. One of the other Hunter-drones stops to feed on it.

The others, however, now rapidly approach melee range!

Cog: Try to hit the charging one.
Gear: Don't fire! The blast could hurt you.
Dr. Morboda: Try to hit the charging one.

Gear should fire at the ones in the back of the charge.

Gear sucessfully re-established surprise. We know this drill by now, I presume!
[Gear's Morale -> 60 Rallied!]
[Gear's PERC+Heavy Weapons -> 25]
[No Defense Roll -> 0]
[Gear's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 21 NO]
[Sniper Rifle is Armorpiercing]
[35-0=35]

One of the drones in the back is toast.

Cog fires another burst!
[Cog's Morale -> 80]
[Cog's RFLX+Small Arms -> 23+5 = 28]
[Hunter-Drone's RFLX+Dodge -> 17]
[Hit. 28-17 = 11-5 = 6%5= 1]
[Cog's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 17 no]
[15-15 = 0]
[22-12 = 10]
[12-9 = 4]
[19-6 = 13]
[20-3 = 17]

Cog's minigrenades overkill another Hunter-Drone.

Dr. Mordoba fires!
[Dr. Mordoba's RFLX+Small Arms -> 83]
[Hunter-Drone's RFLX+Dodge -> 9]
[HIT 83-9= 74%5 = 14]
[Dr. Mordoba's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 27 CRITICAL HIT]
[59-0=59]

... How the hell did a dart gun do THAT!? Dr. Mordoba is certain the toxin she created shouldn't be anywhere near that sudden. Or Effective.

In any case, the two remaining Hunter-Drones attack!
[Hunter-Drone's RFLX+Martial Arts -> 10]
[Cog's RFLX+Dodge -> 12 MISS]
[Cog's Morale -> 74]
[Hunter-Drone's RFLX+Martial Arts -> 17]
[Cog's RFLX+Dodge -> 6]
[Cog's RFLX+Armed Combat -> 25 MISS]

Cog manages to weave out of the way of one, but has been forced to block the other with the shotgun. He is now stuck in melee combat and cannot fire!

Both drones are currently in contact with Cog! Besides, Gear's sniper rifle hasn't cycled yet. It's wonderful for sniping, but it does have a low rate of fire, and she only has five bullets left.

Cog> if I remember correctly you were prepared enough to bring a sword (but not enough to bring the towel). draw that and swing at the guy who is harassing you, when it dodges blast it with the shotgun.

>Sloppy Makeouts with Hunter-Drone

>Gear snipe the other drone
>Dr. Morbaodoac : dart gun the drone on cog, don't hit cog though

Ew! Nobody wants that! It'd be like making out with a zerg or something GROSS

Cog focuses. Just like Sifu taught him... The shotgun has been dropped. the sword has been drawn.
[Cog's Morale -> 64]
[Cog's RFLX+Armed Combat -> 20]
[Hunter-drone's RFLX+Dodge -> 4]
[Hunter-drone's RFLX+Martial Arts -> 28 MISS]
[Hunter-drone begins to tire.]
[Cog's Morale -> 58]


Dr. Mordoba fires. Maybe this one won't explode!
[Dr. Mordoba's RFLX+Small Arms -> 14]
[Hunter-Drone's RFLX+Dodge -> 10]
[4%5 = 0]
[Dr. Mordoba's CRFT+ Spot Weakness -> 12 no]
[13-20 = 0]
[Hunter-Drone's BODY+ Resistance -> 12 FAIL]
[Hunter-Drone's RFLX drops!]
[Hunter-Drone's BODY drops!]
[Hunter-Drone's PERC drops!]
[Hunter-Drone's SPED drops!]
[Hunter-Drone's KNOW drops!]
[Hunter-drone has been poisoned!]

Well, that went a little better- oh void it's coming this way and it's got big claws oh void oh void oh void
[Hunter-drone's RFLX+Martial Arts -> 5]
[Dr. Mordoba's RFLX+Dodge -> 10 MISS]
[Dr. Mordoba's Morale -> 75]

... Phew.

The other one seems more interested in that fascinating sword Cog has...
[Hunter-drone's RFLX+Martial Arts -> 8]
[Cog's RFLX+Dodge -> 12 MISS]
[Cog's Morale -> 53]

He's doing the best he can!
[Cog's RFLX+Armed Combat -> 22]
[Hunter-Drone's RFLX+Dodge -> 5]
[Hunter-Drone's RFLX+Martial Arts -> 20]
[22-20=2 hit]
[Cog's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 26 CRITICAL HIT]
[20-15=5]

Cog leaves a gash across the Hunter-drone's chest!

Dr. Mordoba hesitates.

Gear's sniper rifle has cycled.

>morboda: Dart gun that hunter again
>Cog: keep slashing
>Gear: look for queen

[Gear's PERC+Awareness -> 20]
Gear still can't see her from this vantage point! She'll probably have to scout closer to home...

[Dr. Mordoba's RFLX+fast draw -> 15 OK]
Dr. Mordoba readies her electric fist!
[Dr. Mordoba's RFLX+Martial Arts ->33-5= 28]
[Hunter-drone's RFLX+Dodge -> 11]
[Hunter-Drone's RFLX+Martial Arts -> 4]
[28-11= 17%5=3]
[Dr. Mordoba reveals a hidden talent! Trained by a Master- improves lots of neat stuff with Martial Arts skill!]
[Dr. Mordoba's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 30 CRITICAL HIT +1]
[37-0=37]

Who the hell needs sedation on a Hunter-drone? Honestly. Besides, they're immune to most narcotics- sedation is generally not an option. Really, Dr. Mordoba is glad that she managed to formulate that specific.

[Hunter-drone's RFLX+Martial Arts -> 18]
[Cog's RFLX+ Dodge -> 12]
[Cog's RFLX+ Armed Combat -> 25]
[MISS]
[Cog's Morale -> 43]

Wait so what is the dart gun exactly?

It seems to completely maul a hunter, but now for some reason martial arts would be a better choice?

>Gear: head closer to the colony's nest or center or whatever

That was the result of a ridiculously lucky roll. The toxin didn't actually affect the exploded one! That was caused by the dart itself. I'll let you consider that further.

Also! The toxin does not stack its effect! So attacking the same drone with it twice is pretty useless.

[Cog's RFLX+Armed Combat -> 31]
[Hunter-drone's RFLX+Dodge -> 15]
[Hunter-drone's RFLX+MA -> 6]
[31-15= 16%5= 3]
[Cog's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 14 no]
[24-4=20]

Cog slashes through the last hunter-drone.
[Cog's Armed Combat -> 6]
[Dr. Mordoba's Martial Arts -> 6]

[Gear's RFLX+Stealth -> 27]
Gear approaches the direction the attack group came from. If it's been three weeks, that might be the only attack group.

They can only hope... Gear finds a hole.

>Make a plan to cause a cave in, instantly killing all the horrible monstrocities inside.

You're not so sure about that; if it can dig that hole, it can probably work its way out. Hunter-genics are, after all, ultimate survivors. They had to be, for the kinds of things they were designed to do...

>Make a plan to lure all the hunter-drones out of the hole so Gear can snipe them all to death.

I doubt the queen and eggs can move, so that plan is useless.

Gear is absolutely sure this will be useless. Man, this would be a good time for a plasma grenade. Except... That would burn the root system. Damn it.

>regroup, a sniper rifle is fairly useless down that hole by it self.

Which means this is the best option.

Gear now actively dislikes this job.

Second post coming.

THIS IS A SECOND POST FOR THE SECOND CHAPTER AND THE ENTIRE INTERLUDE.

Show Content

Spoiler

Cog, Gear and Dr. Mordoba regroup. "You've found something, Gear?"

She motions to the hole. "Looks like a burrow. Doctor?"

Dr. Mordoba nods. "It would appear that's the case. Damn. We can't let it kill the Grove. Cog,
how many of those grenades do you have?"

Cog silently reaches in his backpack and reloads his shotgun with another drum of mini-grenades. [Shots Remaining in this load: 35]

Dr. Mordoba nods. "Perhaps you should take point, unless you'd prefer me to."

Cog looks at Dr. Mordoba, and silently nods.

All three of you activate light sources. This managed to lead you into the burrow. Gear isn't sure how long they keep walking into the earth, but she does have enough time to reload her sniper rifle. [Shots remaining in this load: 8]

Soon, the burrow starts to take on a... pinkish hue. As Cog's boots start to slip, he looks down. The pinkish stuff is now on the bottom. Worse, it seems to be wet...

[Dr. Mordoba's PERC+Biotech -> 17 OK]

Dr. Mordoba comes to a horrible realization. "This... this is similar to Age of Superpowers piloted bioweapon technology..."

The corridor splits in a t-section ahead- it doesn't look nearly so raw here.

:> _:

>Cog: Wait wait wait wait wait, what KIND of bioweaponry?

"Piloted, didn't you hear me? Of course, it might not be... We might just be sitting in a dead corpse or something. But no doubt about it, it's definitely Age-of-Superpowers level." Dr. Mordoba looks grim. "I'd heard rumors, but... Hopefully, I'm fairly certain the queen can't eat much of this; I think. Something about unique biochemistry required to build something this gigantic."

>Cog(Or maybe Gear): You don't know what the heck that means! Tell Mordoba to start making sense.

"Wait, Age of Superpowers? This is Pre-war biotechnology? How long have you known about this?" Cog asks.

"This is the first I've seen of it. It's actually quite odd; something like this would have precluded the building of the Prime Grove!" Dr. Mordoba pulls out a Vidcorder, and starts doing a recap for the camera.

Gear looks at Cog. "How should we go about this?"

"You're better at tactics than I am," Cog replies.

"Should we abandon the job?" Gear asks. "This might be way out of our league."

Cog just shoots her a look.

Gear smiles. "Only joking, anyway."

"Are you two done talking?" Dr. Mordoba asks. "I want to find out more. I want to find out why common Greenzoning practices weren't observed. I want to know what my superior was thinking. But, most importantly, I want that queen dead."

Cog looks at the T-section. "Dr. Mordoba? I'll head with you left."

Gear looks down the right corridor. "How will we keep in contact?"

"Hm. Well. If this is one of the bigger Pre-War bioweapons, it's probably symmetrical." Dr. Mordoba notes the white spots in the walls, pointing at them. "And there is good news- if it's not dead, it's dying. Look, this lymph node is starting to go gangrenous. So! Chances are the membranes that act as doors of a sort won't be working too well."

"... That doesn't answer my question," Gear says.

"Hm. It probably still has neurons. Let me test something..." Dr. Mordoba prods one of the white spots. A sort of writhing pulse goes through the corridor. "Ugh. But it should work as a panic switch..."

:> _:

Cog looks down one branch, and discovers a Hunter-slayer.

It's spotted him. Just his luck, really. [Implementing new BV rules... Done. Implementing explosives rules... Done] Well, no time like the present. Cog fires the Drum-fed shotgun!
[Assessing bonuses... +4]
[Cog's RFLX+Small Arms -> 32]
[Hunter-slayer's SPD+Dodge -> 15]
[32-15= 17div5= 3-2 (BR)= 1]
[Cog's CRFT+Spot Weakness= 15 no]
[24-30= 0]
[25-12= 13]
[23-0= 23]
[23-0= 23]
[21-0= 21]
Several explosions rip through the cavern! The Hunter-Slayer is now bleeding from multiple appendages! The Hunter-Slayer collapses.

There is a scream of raaaage that echoes through the corridors! and then, a sound like rain skittering over leather.

I think they've heard you.

:> _:
[Cog's Small Arms -> 7]

==>

Interior- Ephraim City: The Hunter-Queen's Chamber
As Cog and Dr. Mordoba approach the center, the entire complex becomes blackened, and smells faintly of almonds. Drips of liquefied material hit the floor in wet plops while Cog feels his boots squelching deeper into the decaying organic material. The corridors sag from the ceiling, producing the feeling like the entire world is closing in on Cog.

Something that looks like a fresh cut has caused recent scabbing, but the oozing pus only seems to increase the stench of the dead.

You don't need any skill ranks in biotechnology to understand that something has gone horribly, horribly wrong here.

Cog tries to look through the dead and the dark, and spots a flash of white. "Uh-oh."

Squish. Squish squishsquishsquish-

Ahead of Cog and Dr. Mordoba is the Hunter-queen. It is heavily armored.

Dr. Mordoba turns around and shouts, "They're here!"

And, indeed, they are.

An immature Hunter-Slayer is already a terrible sight to behold, with its scything limbs and terrible speed. A mature one is a match in personal combat for anything but the most seasoned Cavalier; it stands at two meters, or crawls if it can't stand, with armor that would put even advanced pre-War powered armor to shame. It moves with intense grace and speed, taking three rounds for every one of yours.

Even the two behind you may be your graves. Worse, no one knows about this place. Even if you were well-known enough and honorable enough, you might not have anyone left to recover you if you fail!

The Hunter-slayers close to Melee range.

You have one action each for Dr. Mordoba and Cog. Make them count.

:> _:

[Mordy's EGO+Intimidation -> 27 OK+3]
[Cog's EGO+Intimidation -> 29 OK+3]

Cog and Dr. Mordoba stand tall in the face of fear!
[Cog's Morale-> 15 imustn'trunawayimustn'trunaway]
[Mordy's Morale -> 25 This is NOT GOOD]
[Cog's RFLX+Small Arms -> 37]
[Hunter-Slayer's SPD+Dodge -> 28]
[Cog's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 41 CRITICAL HIT+2]
[37-28= 9div5= 1+3= 4-2= 2]
[0]
[0]
[10]
[23]
[22]

Well, you managed to slag one anyway! :apple:
[Hunter-Queen is Stationary]
[Mordy's RFLX+Small Arms -> 34]
[Hunter-Queen's SPD+Dodge -> 3]
[Mordy's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 19 no]
[34-3= 31div5= 6]
[6-0=6]
Dr. Mordoba finds a chink in its armor, and drives a dart in deeply!
[Hunter-Queen's BODY+Resistance -> 29]
[Mordy's placed it in a heart! Difficulty is 30!]
[Hunter-Queen has been poisoned!]
[Hunter-Queen's BODY drops!]
[Hunter-Queen's SPD drops!]
[Hunter-Queen's RFLX drops!]
[Hunter-Queen's CRFT drops!]
[Hunter-Queen's KNOW drops!]

The remaining Hunter-Slayer attacks!
[Hunter-Slayer's RFLX+MA -> 18]
[Cog's SPD+Dodge -> 20 MISS]
[Cog's Morale -> 10 mustn'trunaway]
[Hunter-Slayer's RFLX+MA -> 28]
[Cog''s SPD+Dodge -> 40]
[The GM is starting to look a little upset!]
[Cog's Morale -> 7 can'tletitgetmecan'tletitgetme]

Suddenly, bright, soft bioluminescence fills the Queen's chamber! That's... Odd...
:> _:

[Hunter-Slayer's RFLX+Martial Arts -> 21]
[Cog's SPD+Dodge -> 32]
[Cog's Dodge skill -> 7]
[Cog's Morale -> 2 CRAPCRAPCRAPCRAPCRAP]

[The GM demands to see Cog's character sheet!]
[The GM notes the Talents and Morale Adjustments, and takes Cog's Player aside... bwahahahaha!!]
[Cog's Player returns. He seems dejected.]

[Cog's RFLX+Small Arms -> 37]
[The GM sighs.]
[Hunter-Slayer's SPD+Dodge -> 17]
Cog's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 11 no]
[37-17=20div5= 4-2= 2]
[0]
[0]
[5]
[24]
[18]
[Cog's Morale -> 5]
The hunter-slayer is still alive! Oh no! At least one of his arms doesn't look so hot.

The Hunter-Queen finally gets a turn! This doesn't look good! She's charging up for her acid spit! This will probably kill Both of you!
[Hunter-queen's-]
BLAM

Gear: Go back to them, splitting up is never a good idea. Be cautious about beasties though.

Gear>peg the queen with the surprise bonus because you showed up at the hallway at the opposite end, gibs for everyone.

[Hunter-Queen is Immobile!]
[Gear's PERC+heavy weapons -> 51]
[Hunter-Queen is surprised! No defense roll!]
[Gear's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 17 no]
[Gear's Spot Weakness skill -> 7]
[Sniper Rifle is Armorpiercing!]
[51-0= 51div5= 10+2= 12-2(Queen is Hard As Nails)=10]
[67-0= 67]
[Bile duct destroyed!]
[Eye destroyed!]
[Egg sac destroyed!]
[Hunter-queen is annihilated.]

For a single, silent moment as the Queen collapses into a heap of its own acid and destruction, the light seems to catch Gear's blonde hair, as if a halo surrounds her. The rifle is in her hands, she is calm, collected. And every single being in the cavern is now looking at her. And she is looking back at the hunter-slayer. She has to look up a bit to do this, but she does it. It only increases the effect.

Mordy's jaw drops. "Like the old angels..."
[Gear has discovered talent: Even The Girls Want Her]
[Gear's ammunition remaining: 1]

Cog is the only being in the room not stunned and may take an action.

Cog takes advantage of the situation and points the shotgun behind him. SPHOK SPHOK SPHOK SPHOK SPHOK.

Yeah, the last Hunter-Slayer is very, very dead. So much so that Cog's not even going to roll damage.

Mordy looks at Cog and Gear. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have led you in here."

"It's our job, isn't it?" Gear replies. "So, what's here?"

Mordy looks through the dead tissue and finds a large console. "Ugh, it's probably destroyed..."

Cog walks up. "Let me take a look."
[Cog's CRFT+General Repair -> 22 OK!]
Cog manages to get the computer to turn on!

Mordy does a full system backup of the Ancient Bioweapon: Jotun. "This is amazing... Such a trove of knowledge..." She pauses. "I suppose your job is over. I still need to figure out what's going on here. Wait." Mordy accesses her PDA. "If... Oh. Suddenly everything makes sense... You can go whenever you like. The payment will be put into your account. I have some thinking to do."

All three head back to Ephraim City.
Dr. Mordoba has left the lance...?

It's been a long day!
:> _:

Mordy> be absolutely fine and come back with several blueprints for the basis of the pre-war biotech to advance the current technology by a good 5 years. maybe more.

>Give the best of it to the nice helpful caviliers who risked their life for you.

Dear Void, Fire and Water. She had never expected her superior to be engaging in such... Such... This was beyond unethical! And using the Prime Grove no less! This could set back the Greenzoning by half a decade! All this manipulation... Though it did explain the odd dead zone...

And these blueprints...! An illegal bioweapon! Even more damning, there's a signature here...

Mordy purchases a NAPOLEON, and reads the journals of Head Researcher Mela over the night.

Mordy has gone to confront the mayor!

WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM. Mordoba is pounding on the door to the mayor's quarters!

The doors slide open. The Mayor is sitting up, as if he's been expecting her. "Dr. Mordoba, come in. How can I... Help you?"

"Mr. Mayor! How could you approve these?! This is- is- I can't believe you've done this!" Mordy's hands are shaking.

"Done what?"

"Don't lie to me!" She shows him the holo. "Look at this! Plans to revive the bioweapon Gaia using a human pilot in a permanent biological fusion? Approval to use the Prime Grove as a retrovirus carrier? Ordering a new hunter-queen released!? I want answers, Mr. Mayor! Now!"

"Dr. Mordoba, please. There's no need to be so irate." The Mayor smiles. "After all, there's no way I would have signed this, not with the knowledge of what they were."

Mordy can feel the insincerity. "Liar. You used the Greenzone Initiative's resource to try and build your own private army, didn't you!? Have the ruins around you taught you nothing!?"

The Mayor shakes his head. "Dr. Mordoba, if you don't calm down, I will have to have you incarcerated. The fact is, you can't do anything about it."

:> _:

Dr. Mordoba smiles, and produces a recorder. *Click* "Mr. Mayor, you have been responsible for some of the worst crimes humanity has seen in a century. There is absolutely nothing I can do to condone this kind of activity! I RESIGN."

Mordy blushes. "Uh, oops. Wrong recorder." She produces a different recorder. The mayor's voice puts out, "The fact is, there isn't anything you can do about it." She raises an eyebrow. "So."

"Bah! Entrapment. I can get off this way too easily, Dr. Mordoba."

"It's not your court of law I will have to prove this to." Mordy nods. "Good-bye, Mr. Mayor. Have fun reconstructing your little project. Most of it's beyond even the best minds in the Territories to repair."

Mordy walks out.

As soon as the door closes, she starts running. It is now sunrise. Within a few minutes, Mordy doesn't doubt that several deputies will be after her. After all, she was wearing powered armor into the mayor's office...

:> _:

> Go see if you can find those caviliers that helped you out. They might be able to help protect you.

Well, yeah. They took out a HUNTER-QUEEN NEST thingy. Without their mechs. Of course they can help you with this.

You're not quite sure how, but rumors to this effect have already spread throughout the town. Not only that, it's starting to get on the INFOLINK. Of course, something this big would HAVE to spread like wildfire.

[Cog's renown -> 33 Cog, the personal combat ace]
[Cog goes over last night's events and discovers a talent- Luck of the Devil- When morale is low, Critical Hit Rate increases. When Morale is high, critical hit damage increases!]
[Gear's renown -> 33 Gear, the avenging angel]
[Mordy's renown -> 20 Dr. Mordoba, ethical scientist]
[Mordy's honor -> 75 Ethical scientist]
[Cog's honor -> 80 Protector of Ephraim City]
[Gear's honor -> 80 Avenging Angel]

WHAM WHAM WHAM. Gear blinks herself awake. How long has it been...? Only six hours. Uuuuugh, leave her alone...

WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM. "Gear? Gear are you in there? I don't have much time..."

Gear lugs up her sniper rifle, and walks to the door. "This had better be amazing, or else-"

Mordy sweeps Gear up in a hug. "Oh thank you thank you, listen I might have just... Uh... Really ticked off the mayor, so we might need to get out of town immediately."

"Put... Down... Crushing... ribs..." Gear struggles to get out of Mordy's grip.

Mordy blushes. "Uh, oops." She loosens the grip a little. "But please, you gotta help me get out of here!"

"Uh, can you put me down now?" Gear says, smiling kindly. "It's good to see you too, but you're wearing a couple hundred kilos of solid metal and it's obvious you don't know your own strength. Also lean against a wall WAIT NO DON'T SIT DOWN-"

CRUNCH. Mordy has shattered a small wooden chair in her sleep-deprived state.

Gear sighs. "Okay, I'll just sit on the bed then." She gets a Fizzbin (It's Kirkalicious! Whatever that means) and sits on the bed, sipping while Mordy talks.

"I- I- I- I just confronted the mayor with what happened in the hole last night I think he's upset. I'm worried that the deputies will be after me soon because I threatened to expose him. And and and..." Mordy regains her composure. "And I need some help. I don't know if I can pay you anymore than I did last night but I do know that I can probably be of help on missions..."

:> _:

Gear looks at Mordy. Even in the imposing power armor that makes her look, well, kinda like she has a shrunken head, the fact is, Mordy does need help. Still... She's not comfortable taking this on without Cog putting in his opinion.

Cog is standing outside the door. "Mordy? I thought you went home last night?"

Mordy blushes. "Uh, well, I er um-"

"She wants to join the lance, Cog," Gear says with a soft smirk. "And no, she just arrived."

"Ah." Cog nods. "Well. I don't see any reason why not, as long as you've got nothing here for you."

Mordy seems to brighten considerably. "You... You really mean it?"

:> _:

Cog nods, silently- and gets himself the dubious honor of being hugged by someone in power armor.

Gear joins in too, though it's extremely awkward what with Mordy still being in several hundred pounds of metal. Mordy is smiling. Is that a tear in her eyes? Still, she is looking out the door and stops cold.

At about this moment, a few deputies have shown up. All of them are armed, but only one has their truncheon out. In fact, seeing that all three of you are there seems to make them all very very nervous.

The one at the head speaks up first. "Dr. Mordoba? We... We need to take you in for questioning. Sheriff's orders."

:> _:

Gear lays down the sniper rifle carefully in front of her, bending at the back instead of the knees. "Sure, we can answer your questions, why don't you... Come inside and ask?"
[Gear's CHRM+Conversation+Flirtation-> 26]

Most of the deputies are flustered! One's about to step in, but one of the other deputies blocks him. "I-I'm sorry ma'am, we're going to have to take you down to the sheriff's office."

Gear raises an eyebrow. "Ma'am? I certainly hope I don't look old enough to be called ma'am."

"Uh, no, miss, you definitely don't." The deputy shuts his eyes to try and clear his head.

"Hm, I suppose we can go along with it," Gear says, smiling as she saunters past the deputies, and walks directly up to one. "But... Could I see your truncheon?"
[Gear's CHRM+Flirtation+Conversation-> 57]
[Gear's Flirtation skill -> 6]
[Gear's Conversation skill -> 6]

The deputy is rendered speechless! "Hurrr, um..." It doesn't look like his brain is connecting right now.
[Gear's RFLX+Pickpocketing -> 10 OK]

Gear calmly takes the truncheon out of its holster. She then proceeds to hit an entirely different deputy with it, taking advantage of surprise.
[Gear's RFLX+ Armed Combat -> 17]
[17div5= 3]
[Gear's CRFT+ Spot Weakness -> 25 CRITICAL HIT]
[Extra attacks... 2. 3 hits!]
[8-2= 6]
[11-1= 10]
[16-0=16]
[Deputies' EGO+Intimidation -> 7 NO]
[Gear's Lawfulness -> 30 Lawless Ruffienne]

The deputy drops like a rock. The other deputies are absolutely shocked! It looks like Gear's charm offensive was a stunning success! Of course, she takes utter advantage of it!
[Gear's RFLX+ Armed Combat-> 26]
[26div5= 5]
[Gear's CRFT+ Spot Weakness -> 8 no]
[Extra attacks... 0. 1 hit!]
[25-0=25]
[Gear's Armed Combat skill -> 5]

And the one she borrowed the truncheon from hits the floor like a stooge. "Done so soon?" Cog shakes his head and picks up another baton. Mordy just shrugs and hits one in the face...
[Mordy's RFLX+Martial Arts -> 21]
[21div5=4+1(TBAM)=5]
[Mordy's CRFT+Spot Weakness -> 26 CRITICAL HIT]
[Extra attacks... 4. 5 hits!]
[15-4=11]
[22-3=19]
[13-2=11]
[12-1=11]
[9-0=9]
With a punishing set of spinning kicks.

Combat is now imminent!
:> _:

>Use the mechs to escape.

>is the path clear?
Everybody> make a break for the garage where the mechs are held. the backup will be here shortly.

>YEAH LETS GOO WOOOOOOOOOOOOoo ooo does mordy just ride on a shoulder or something

Mordy purchases a NAPOLEON, and reads the journals of Head Researcher Mela over the night.

*SIGH* Mordy had a few minutes to rest, but she's been up since yesterday morning and is a little exhausted. She slows down the others a little, and the deputies are right behind them.

Good thing mecha don't rely too much on their pilots' REFleXes while running! Oh, wait, yes they do. Man, it's gonna be difficult shepherding a Napoleon around while evading the Guardians, but it should prove to be interesting!

At least you have each other, yeah? And Mordy should be a good addition to your lance.

Unfortunately, a small detachment of Yorkes is sitting on the entrance ramp! This doesn't look good!

:> _:

Go for the legs.

ALL SYSTEMS... OK duuuwedeedeet!

All mecha are online!

But Mordy, in particular, is tired of this. "What is wrong with you people!?" She screams into the comm as she advances on the deputies. "Someone is using science to try and improve your lives for once and you've done nothing!"

Few things match the pounding terror of thirty-odd tons of mecha clanging towards you. The NAPOLEON is the smallest mecha in its class, having little room for weapons and even less room for complex maneuvers, but it has a forward momentum that is unrivaled.

Perhaps I should back up and describe exactly what each of our deputies is seeing right now. Aside from the SIMON, which looks like it stepped out of an entirely different science fiction story- no longer shiny, but still white, with a lithe grace to its curve and motion that even with its manual controls made it tend to stay shiny- and the Patton, which resembled nothing more or less than a grizzled old veteran made of metal, assigned three eyes as implants after he lost his first set in a shrapnel accident, kitted out under the weight of the squad's LAW and SMG and the anti-air platform they had been ordered to put up, and not only performing well under the circumstances, but asking the rookies why they were having such a hard time keeping up.

Those two figures are not kind.

And then there is the Napoleon. If the Simon is the 'elf', The Napoleon is the 'dwarf' of the size 4 mecha. Dumpy, small, with a torso that makes it look like someone made a mecha design based on a cup-and-ball game instead of an actual human shape, the designers of the Napoleon obviously weren't looking at any sort of aesthetic value. They wanted two things out of that mech- armor, and utterly blinding speed. They did the best they could- even among mecha, the Napoleon is only considered moderately armored- but you would never expect something coming in at only two and a half stories to come out swinging so quickly.

Dr. Mordoba has just used this to tackle one of the deputies.

Let's see the carnage.
[Mordy's RFLX+Mecha Fighting-MV -> 9]
[Deputy's RFLX+Mecha Piloting-MV -> 8]
[Deputy's RFLX+Mecha Piloting-MV -> 10 no]

WHAM! The Napoleon crashes into the Yorke, sending it toppling over, and leaving a hole in the deputies' line! Mordy, at this point, doesn't care about the others. She's moving out of town at full running speed.

The deputies take a few half-hearted potshots at her, but it's fairly obvious to Gear and Cog they are aiming to miss. Apparently there are a few dissenters in the sheriff's ranks!

:> _:

Gear> make a break for the hole, tripping up a nearby mech with the halberd as you pass
Cog> if you can ever get a intimidation roll with your mech now is the time. slow walk through the hole with the cannons locked and loaded.

:^:

Both Cog and Gear charge the doorway!

Gear briefly entertains trying to convert one of the sheriffs, but reconsiders; after all, there's only one Yorke pilot in particular that she's after. He painted his Yorke in the red of a lunar eclipse in a sick parody of their own regolith grey. He eschewed the rocket launcher in favor of a few more laser cannons he mounted, as well as the infamous Nova Blade he picked up off the destroyed husk of a rival.

He is the Arena Champion, bar none the greatest Cavalier the Territories have ever known. She sighs at the very thought of him, moving like ice on a greased cooking pan, eliminating bandits, Luna forces, and corruption in equal measure.

Of course, it's never going to happen. She was a Cavalier, not some townie to be swept off her feet.

Gear only now realizes that she managed to evade the gauntlet entirely, and the vidscreens of Cog and Mordy are looking at her kinda funny. "Huh?"

"Gear, where did you learn to move like that?" Cog asks.

"Like what?"

"... Never mind." Cog looks at his map. "Come on, if we hurry we can make it to a clearing by nightfall."

"OK!"

[Gear's Mecha Piloting skill -> 7]
Gear has left Ephraim City.
Mordy has left Ephraim City.
Cog has left Ephraim City.

How did Cog get out?

"Hey, Cog, I... I think I lost track of you in there."

"No shit?" Cog sighs. "Okay. I'll tell you about it while we walk."

"So where are we headed, anyway?" Mordy asks.

"Greenhill," Gear replies. "But Cog should tell you his story, so I can tell you ours."

************************

Cog walks forward in the Patton. He knew the biggest problem with the Yorke- namely, its cockpit, while it had top-notch sensors and easy access for repairs, had the glaring weakness of being installed in the head. Especially lucky, then, that Gear had suddenly started learning how to dodge. How she had learned how to dodge was beyond him. Sometimes, things just happened, he guessed.

In any case, they all seemed much more concerned with Gear than they were with his Patton- especially true as he didn't want to deal with the rather severe problem of laying down explosives in an enclosed area.

Still it couldn't hurt to lay down some suppressive fire... He drew a bead on one of the Yorkes... And pulled the trigger right when Gear danced in the way! Oh NOOOOOOO!

And then, it was like she already knew it was going to happen, because she had somehow, impossibly, shifted her mecha in the other direction, without even turning to notice the weapon.
[Cog's RFLX+Mecha Gunnery+BR+TR-MV -> 21]
[Deputy's RFLX+Mecha Piloting-MV -> 24 MISS]

The deputy noticed just in time to avoid getting his mecha damaged but the combination of both Cog and Gear told him in no uncertain terms to quit the field; the two remaining didn't feel particularly inclined to bother with taking down two rather nasty pilots.

*******

"And that's what happened," Cog concludes. "So, really, did you take some sort of stimpack or something?"

"No, no, I didn't," Gear says, clearly just as confused as Cog is. "All I was doing was considering the Arena Champion." Wistful sigh.

Cog blinks. "Seriously? That's what you're going with?"

"No, really! That's what happened!"

Gear: Don't stop thinking about that champion.

There are other things to do right now! Besides, daydreaming won't get her any closer to him! Much as she'd like to know just what sort of face is under that helmet... A lot of people have seen him work, but no one's ever really gotten a good look at him- or at least, that's what they say.

Mordy: Tell them about what the mayor's doing.

Mordy relays what she knows about the mayor's plans. As this has already been revealed, I won't bother having her repeat the message as that would just be silly, now, wouldn't it?

Cog wants to slam his console, but of course, as there is too many buttons there, he won't. "This is exactly the kind of crap I'm talking about! Illegal bioweapons, petty infighting, and destructive corruption! This is why we're having such a hard time getting this planet back in order!"

"Cog! Calm down!" Gear puts in. "There's not a lot we can do about it now. So where are we headed?"

Cog nods. "Right. Right. Well, actually, if the map I had was correct, there's this cabin we'll be stopping at tonight...

END- Of Hunters and Genics

This is the Interlude, 2.5- Much ado about this 'Arena Champion' everyone keeps talking about is contained therein.

Show Content

Spoiler

INTERLUDE

You are now the Arena Champion. Before you ask, yes, he remembers his name, and no, he's not going to tell you. In any case, he had been wandering about recently, and got a job from a woman in Oxbow Lake.

He has reached his destination, via walking up to it, as it doesn't look like the guards have mecha; even if they did, it would be kind of suspicious to guard what looks like a log cabin from outside with three or four of the things.

There appear to be two guards at the main entranceway.

:> _:

>Recall details of job

Actually, it's pretty bad; it was originally just a search and rescue- one of the things you normally do in the course of doing your rounds. The woman from Oxbow wanted you to find her daughter. And then you hear that, as usual for such cases, the sheriff referred it to the marshal. And then the marshal decides that he needs extra payment to do the job.

That smelled fishy, so you took the job and followed the trail. Now you're out here waiting, because you know it leads here, but you're not sure how you should take care of the guards just yet.

You close your eyes, and you can hear that there are definitely people inside. At least three, no more than fifteen. Sounds pretty hard, too- seems like the log cabin is only a facade.

>Talk to the guards, with your gun.

You could hit them with your laser pistol, but most of the time you find that remarkably boring, especially as then people shoot at you. Which you admit, is occasionally exciting, but would probably alert the people inside to something being wrong. Instead...

Go talk to the guards.

You walk right up to the cabin, as affable and reticent as you ever are. One guard points a gun at you. "Hey! No one is allowed in here without the express permission of the Boss!"

:> _:

We're here to make a deal.

>"Oh. I was given his permission though."

"Hm?" You say. "But I was given permission by the Boss. I'm here to negotiate for someone."

Egad, you still bust out a thick Lunar accent when you're even slightly nervous, despite it being, what, sixteen or seventeen years since you left? Looking through old archives once upon a time, you think it's somewhere between what was called Northern Midwestern and the Ohio accent. In the case of Japanese it sounds a little more like Osakan.

Still, the guard nods. "Oh! Of course you are! Here, I'll open the door for you." *click*

"Thank you." You give him a little smile, and you can almost see the poor man's heart melt. He'll come to his senses in a minute, but by then you'll already be inside. You're still not sure why even the guys want you, but you're not about to pass up an advantage.

You were right about how many people are inside- in the dim mid-afternoon light faintly streaming in through tiny windows you see various men smoking everything from tobacco to hot, steamy crack fresh off the presses. They're all fairly scruffy-lookin' and you take a guess that at least one might have herded nerf at some point. Needless to say, the smell is an assault to the senses. If it wasn't for your high Resistance skill you'd probably be on a contact high right now. Ugh.

As your eyes adjust to the light, you see a lot of old hunting trophies. From how poorly they're kept, you don't doubt that nobody currently in residence has done any hunting in years, though one seems to be putting on spectacular airs by sitting in a throne made of stylized branches and antler racks. Maybe he's the leader?

:> _:

You walk right up to the leader, bold as brass. Everyone is staring at you, though some are a little more... unfocused than the others.

You think you recognize the leader, though it's difficult to tell in the smoke-filled haze that pervades the room. He certainly looks bored by your arrival- or is it just all the drug interactions? This place is worse than the Ziggurat and you're pretty sure that miasma has killed more than once.

"Uh, hello there..." You put forth, politely.

The leader doesn't seem to be buying it. "Yes, yes, what do you want?"

:> _:

The smoke begins to clear presently, through it, you think you can recognize the man's face now. Well, not really, but at least you recognized the tarnished marshal's badge he apparently has attached to his beer stein. He turns it around to drink from it and you see that the badges have two different numbers.

"Mighty fine mug you got there, eh?" You ask, nonchalantly.

"Heh. Can't stand the High Marshals. Thinking they can police the policemen, who do they think they're fooling?" His features solidify. He's lean, and wiry, and tall, with spindly fingers that seem to be curled about an invisible throat. The leader isn't a bandit at all, it's Marshal Ciari.

"I'm here for a girl."

"Oh? Where would you like her delivered?" A few laughs from the crowd. "I'm not about to let girls go cheap, especially to someone I don't know, mister..."

You pull out one of your laser pistols and put it to his forehead. "Michael. I'm from Luna. Maybe you know me."

His eyes widen in shock and fear. You can smell it come off him. Suddenly the entire room has become extremely tense. There are a few weapons you can hear being drawn, in response to which you pull out your other laser pistol.

:> _:

You fire multiple times into the crowd. The cronies' weapons have mostly been hit and destroyed. It doesn't hurt that because of the overload they've lost use of their hands, too.

Killing everyone is so harsh, really. The storm of bullets forces you to dive out of the way, though even now some of the bandits are dropping their guns and running because you're moving too fast. You let them run away, as you don't see much of a need to throw good bodies in the ground after bad. Maybe one day they'll recover.

But now, for the rest. You've gotten five shots off, and most seem to be trying to work toward concealment, overturning tables, getting behind cushions, that sort of deal. This is pretty normal, at least, in your line of work. You start running through the establishment, gunning down those who are apparently too busy shooting at you to cower.

In the aftermath, you don't even have a scratch, and you can hear a few other people whispering things like "N-n-n-no way..." "Cold-blooded..." and, inevitably, there's one who says, "Like a wildfire..."

There's always someone who likens you to an elemental force. But, well, who can blame them? After all, that does have something to do with how you're this good...

>Kill everyone in the room except the Marshall. "Now, where were we?" say it with your most wicked and trickerish grin.

You turn back to the marshal, gun in each hand, not even caring about the fearful masses to bother with shooting them. There's no challenge in that. "You said something about a little girl, Marshal?"

Marshal Ciari suddenly looks fearful for his life, but recovers, standing up. At his hip is a scabbard, which is drawn to reveal a chainsaw blade. "You've ruined it! Everything! WHY!?"

You holster your laser pistols out of respect for his choice, and draw the chainsaw blade you won in the bloodsports. Gold filigree runs down its length. "You knew that I'd eventually come for you."

Ciari >"Is that all you have to say for yourself? What are you!?"

You smile. "Me? I'm just a refugee from Luna."

*Click* A high pitched whirr comes from the brutal weapon, and Ciari brings it to a guard stance. "You're a monster!"

:> _:

"I'm a monster, now?" You still have that tiny little smile, which turns into a wicked grin. "Then strike me down." You feel the blades reassuring hum up through your arm, and the fight begins. It's actually sort of boring- this guy is obviously trying as hard as he can to get through your defenses, and he simply isn't managing it.

After about fifteen seconds of this- approximately, you can never quite tell in combat- you draw your laser pistol in the off-hand, trap his blade against yours, and shoot it in the motor, ripping it from his hands. "Sickening."

He steps back, hands up in supplication. "Now, let's not be hasty here-"

"Marshal Ciari. You have killed two High Marshals, and raided countless towns in the Territories." You're not sure how, but you've gotten good at this sort of slow walk over the years, at just the right rhythm to state the inevitable. "You've abused your power for your own gain. You have done nothing to deserve your position."

The marshal throws a knife, easily deflected. "Why... Why won't you die...?"

"Because people like you still exist." You pause. "You can request the manner, if you like."

"Screw you, Champ."

"Decapitation it is, then." You make the blow swift and sure, and still there are little gibs that fly out. You'd stop using the chainblade except for the fact that it's so effective.

You pause. They're still here. You stamp your foot, and the floorboards shake a little. "Run."

They do.

The door is easy to find into the basement. Hm, sounds like there are more people here than you thought- or rather, suspected. Not surprising, since they seem to be in concrete cells.

The Champ heads down the secret passage, chainblade lit, walking towards destiny...

THIS IS THE THIRD CHAPTER, where Gear Lance visits an abandoned, yet spookily clean, cabin in the woods.

Show Content

Spoiler

Chapter 3- Dead Man's Hoard

You have arrived at the cabin Cog described earlier in the day. It looks like an old log cabin, but Gear in particular doubts it; as it probably wouldn't be marked as a waypoint then.

Several plots indicate burials nearby, though the graves are already growing in disrepair.

As far as Cog knows or can tell, there's nobody here when hailed. It might be a good place to stop for the night.

Cog: Belatedly realize that you are traveling the countryside with two attractive women. WATCH OUT FOR HIJINKS!

Gear shakes her head. Been there, done that, worn his t-shirt the morning after. Really, it was all too awkward; it felt like, well, being with your brother. Uck. Of course, she can't speak for Dr. Mordoba, though Gear does wonder what she's like under all the clothing and power armor.

You park your mecha outside, taking the passkeys with you. Cog says there's supposed to be nobody here, but even he apparently doesn't trust that assessment. He has the drum-fed shotgun ready and waiting. Mordy has activated her shock fists.

Cog slowly pulls open the door. It's dark inside.

:> _:

turn on the lights then

Cog hunts for a light switch. Inside the cabin is...

Well, there doesn't seem to be anyone here. At all. A faint scent of old incense fills the air. Everything here is... almost too clean. The tables are upright, the entire place is waxed and polished, indeed, there's not even any dust. Someone- or something- cleaned this place up.

Gear enters the cabin, and the first thing she recognizes is the scent of juniper. Juniper incense. Juniper incense!? Oh, that brings memories back. Very fond ones, actually, of going to the town shrine with her father to meditate. That was a (well, back then) big old stone shrine where you stuck the Joss sticks in little holes and burned them off, usually with some form of offering- Daddy often used paper dollars of a kind you were unfamiliar with. But he always picked the best juniper incense to burn- he said it was important to the spirits of Aether.

Dr. Mordoba wonders what that odd smell is. It's nice. Ambient. Relaxing. A little spicy, too.

:> _:

Cog scoots a lot of chairs around but he doesn't appear to find any trap doors. There is an ordinary door, though, leading down to a basement. Just outside said stairwell door is a small stone shrine. Even the ash has been cleared out of it. Which is interesting enough, Cog supposes, because most shrines are open-air. Someone must have set this up in a hurry.

Still, everything seems to be in order. You sling up your shotgun. "I'm gonna take a look downstairs, see if there's any goodies."

"I'll come with you," Dr. Mordoba says.

Gear looks thoughtfully at the shrine. "Hm..."

Gear:
[ ] Light a juniper stick at the shrine and meditate.
[ ] Follow the others.
[ ] Look around for signs of your father having been here.

Mordoba decides to start using the miniscanner in her left poulder. There's something a little off about this place... Even though the basement seems normal, that only makes her more paranoid about it. The more normal it seems, the more sure she is that it's not.

Cog's just amazed the basement goes as deep as it does. That alone is pretty awesome...

Gear takes a look around. Other than that Dad was a complete neat freak, nothing seems to directly implicate his presence... Gear takes out a bunch of handy juniper sticks and flicks her lighter, blowing them out like she was taught before placing them in the shrine in one large sheaf. The scent fills the air...

Gear has entered a trance.
[Gear's mysticism skill ->3]

Bright as fire, swift as the wind, flowing like blood, shaking the earth's fury, aether''s chosen stands astride the land, the sun's very gold in one hand, a hat full of stars in the other, handing to his child a red moon that she takes for her own.

Another vision... Blood, blood and burning here. There is nothing left, as all descends into madness. Forget this place. There is nothing here for you. All will die. The full moon shines its blue-grey light, piercing those who do not escape its eye...

And the third... The sun rises over a diminished land. Its heart remains, exposed, but there are none who could stab it. Thousands stand as one, wandering the land, keeping it forever safe at the cost of their self. The knife is ready, for the one who is willing to take it, but no one dares, and no one can. The dagger's blade turns- it turns to the sun, it turns to the moon, it turns to the land, and all is at peace, if only the peace of the grave.

Gear awakens to realize two hours have passed.

Gear gets up and stretches her legs. She's always on pins and needles after meditating. After a moment, she realizes that Dr. Mordoba and Cog aren't back yet- which is peculiar to say the least. Well, the last place they were was in the basement... She stretches her neck and opens the door.

... Well, that's an awful lot messier than the cabin is... Bloodier too.

:> _:

You descend into the basement. Claw marks mar the walls, like nails had been worn bloody trying to get out of here. There is a corridor here, filled with several stout, metal cell doors. Was this some prison?

Gear opens one of the doors.

Oh... Oh god. This isn't a prison, this is a butchery. human entrails blood... everywhere... Gear places one hand over her mouth to keep from puking.

There's still no sign of Dr. Mordoba. Or Cog.

:> _:

They look- and smell- like they've been dead a couple of days. Though, taking a closer look at the hands... The fingers look worn down to the bone.

Maybe they were trying to escape?

This is starting to make less sense...

She opens another door to a similar, yet more... ritualised scene. The person was laid on the table and everything. Gear slams the door on it.

Gear is starting to worry about where Cog and Mordy are.

:> _:

Are... Are those your mecha? They don't look it. They don't even look like mecha, more like... like... Some kind of biological monstrosity. The place outside is dark, lit by a red moon.

For some reason, Gear slowly turns her head inexorably towards the graves. They are open.

BLOOD

Gear shakes her head. She doesn't understand-

BLOOD OF BLOOD

It hurts, overwhelming-

YOUR VERY PRESENCE DEFILES THIS PLACE

She doesn't-

MONSTER

No-

CHILD OF MONSTERS

NO!

********

A sudden sharp pain jolts Gear awake. Cog and Dr. Mordoba are standing over her, looking very, very concerned. The incense is halfway burnt.

"Gear, what happened? We heard you screaming," Mordy says.

"Yes, that didn't sound good," Cog adds in, perhaps a little unhelpfully.

:> _:

>what, you mean you don't get horrible visions of death and blood every time you meditate?

No, this is pretty unusual. Especially the clarity of all four visions- oh, occasionally you think you can hear little whispers or something or think you catch a flicker at the edge of your vision but nothing on this scale oh void oh void oh void-

"Gear! You're hyperventilating!" Cog stands Gear up to steady her.

Gear calms down. "It's... It was horrible. Death machines... Empty graves, and blood everywhere and-"
[Gear's Morale 0 -> 5]

"Gear!" Mordy said. "Don't be-"

Cog holds one hand up. "Go get some tea, Doctor."

"Don't tell me you're humoring-"

"Go. Get. Some. Tea." Cog doesn't look like he's going to take no for an answer.

Mordy doesn't get why but she'll leave it alone for now. "Fine, I'll go get some from the stores..."

Cog sits Gear down at a booth and hands her some of the resultant tea. "So. What's going on?"

:> _:

"I... I think something terrible happened here," Gear said. "I mean, really terrible. I'm not sure what though..."

Cog nods. "How do you know?"

"This... No, it's crazy." Gear shakes her head and takes a sip of the tea. Mmm. Tea. It's good stuff, too. "Well. I suppose you know that already. It... It was this really creepy vision. I think it has something to do with the arena champ, and blood, or something like that, it was so confusing..."
[Gear's Morale ->10]

"You know the symbolism better than I do, Gear, do you have any idea what it means?"

:> _:

"I'm not sure, but I'd like to stay out of here until we figure what's going on out," Gear replies.

"You can't tell me you got nothing out of it..."

"The one that's the most clear called me a monster and I have no idea why so I'd prefer it if we didn't have to deal with it for now."

"Do either of you have any evidence for any of this? I'd really prefer not to have to sleep in the cold right now if it can be avoided..." Dr. Mordoba sighs, sipping at some of her own tea.
[Dr. Mordoba gains a personality trait: Pragmatic]

"Well. Um." Gear wonders how to put this.

[ ] "Let me check the basement, there may be evidence there."
[ ] "The shrine is really new; someone might have constructed it for a pragmatic reason."
[ ] "Just... Just... I don't know but I don't think we should stay here, that's all."
[ ] Get sullen, say nothing.
[ ] None of the above

"Did you find anything in the basement?"

"Hm? The basement?" Cog asks. "Well, we found an awful lot of restraint equipment. Handcuffs, riot gear, CS gas, that sort of thing. Why?"

"I think the basement has something to do with it. May I take a look?"

"Finish your tea first..." Cog starts, before watching her go down the stairs. Cog sighs, gets up, and goes after her.

In the basement, there is, indeed, a long corridor. The facade fades away here; instead, the corridors look like old plascrete. Several metal doors line the walls. Gear takes a look inside one.

It looks like someone collapsed a tent here, over a chair. It seems sort of silly, but that's the way it's set up.

:> _:

>Look under the tent! Surely the won't be--!

Cog and Gear pull aside the tent. It looks like a chair, set with handcuffs. The chair is empty, but the smell of offal fills the air. "Cog, do you have any idea why someone would do this?"

Cog shakes his head. "Can't say that I do, though it's definitely suspicious. Hm..." He looks at it. "Couldn't you use this to hold someone?"

Gear nods. "But why the tent?"

"No clue." Cog shrugs.

Gear stands up. "I think we should start checking the other rooms more carefully..."

Cog nods.

Two more of the rooms have the exact same setup. Whoever was here was running quite an operation... Worse, they both stink of offal as well. Whoever held people in these tents, they held them here for quite a while...

:> _:

And so, having found some evidence of malfesance, the three of them (one of whom, might I add, has not slept in two days) start to search for more signs of malfesance.

While they find nothing like files or where the money is stashed- I mean, really, who would use paper money now?- they do find several caches of illegal drugs, some of it very well used.

:> _:

Cog nods. "Well, at least we know something illegal was going on here... We could check the graves..."

Mordy blinks. "Ugh. No! I am not digging up graves in the middle of the night to satisfy someone's paranoia! I am sleeping. You are not disturbing me."

"But something terrible did happen here, we know that now," Cog ripostes. "You can't say your curiosity isn't piqued."

"You're right, I'm a little curious. HOWEVER! It can damn well wait until daylight. I don't have the sense or the time to deal with this." Mordy shakes her head. "I'm going upstairs to sleep in a booth. Wake me on pain of fisting."

Gear smirks. "I dunno, I don't think it would fit-"

"YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHAT I MEANT!" With that, Mordy stomps up the stairs, presumably to remove her armor and get some damn sleep.

Cog shrugs. "Well, let's get some shovels, we'll see if we can find out anything.

Gear seems a little leery about disturbing the dead.

:> _:

In the dim light of the full moon, which again, creeps Gear out immensely for some reason Cog can't fathom, you go out to the graves.

They're new, as far as you can tell, though one has a marshal's badge laid on top of it, with a large gash struck in it. They couldn't have been made more than two or three days ago. What's really strange is how they're marked. Gear touches each of the little plates in turn. "This is a Lunar burial marker, what's it doing way out here?"
[Gear's Mysticism skill -> 4]

This might be really bad news!

[ ] Resolve to take the badge personally to the nearest Guardian base.
[ ] Take it for yourself. Keep in mind impersonating a Guardian is a pretty unlawful act!
[ ] Exhume the good Marshal.
[ ] See if you can find more evidence.

Cog picks up the badge and pockets it. "So what's your best guess so far?"

"Hm. Well, my guess? All these fellows had it bad in a fight. Against who exactly I'm not sure; maybe a lance?" Gear sits down to ponder it. "If it was, I'm certain it contained both the Arena Champion and my father. Only the Champ could do so much damage, only my father would be so spiritually inclined as to build a shrine to try and calm their spirits with juniper."

"So who else was there?"

"Enough, apparently." Gear shrugs. "I suppose we can stay here a day or two and investigate it; it's not like we're hurting for time. Do you want to bother unearthing the truth...?" She spreads her arms. "Or shall we let these sleeping dogs lie...?"

And for a moment, Cog could swear that Gear's lips looked a little bloodier, though the moment passes when the moonlight hits her fully. "This can wait until morning at least. Mordy's right, we're all running on too little sleep to think straight right now."

:> _:

A little bloodier eh? SLOPPY MA

>Time to sleep togeth

Good thing that strike-through is there; Cog's fairly certain Dr. Mordoba's in no mood tonight, if she's not already out like a rock. Which she is.

Gear decides to sleep near the mechs. It's not as restful, but at least she's fairly certain she won't get crazy dreams or something like that.

She hopes.

****************************

"NO! NOT THE FISH!" Gear cries out, jolting awake as the sun starts to rise over the eastern horizon. Okay, so that was kind of a crazy dream, but you know. Dreams. You can't expect them to be exact symbolic representations that are precisely relevant to your particular situation, after all.

It is now sunrise.

Gear walks in and the smell of coffee assaults her nose. That and the vision of someone opening several unidentified tins of... Are those sardines? "Chocolate-covered sardines!?"

"What? They were there, nobody was eating them." Mordy hands over half a tin. "Want some?"

[ ] Yes.
[ ] Uh... No thanks. When was that made, anyway?
[ ] How does it taste?

"Uh... When was that made, anyway?" Gear asks.

Mordoba shrugs. "Dunno. Still salty though!"

"Ugh, no. I'll see if I can find something else."

Mordoba happily spears another and eats it right in front of Gear. Oh, yuck!

****************

Cog meanwhile has gone outside again to check on the graves in daylight. At least now he can read the names there, and he decides to see if he can get INFOLINK access to figure out the significance of some of them. So he writes them down.

The INFOLINK turns up that most of them were wanted by the Guardians for petty crime, you know, theft, assault, that sort of thing.

Oddly, it also reports Marshal Ciari as having been missing for several months with no ransom or responsibility posted.

Cog enters the old cabin, to find Mordy eating.... Chocolate-covered sardines which she doesn't know the date of. "I see you enjoy living dangerously."

"Why else am I here? So what did you two come up with?"

Cog laid down some of his evidence. "Well, Gear says the graves haven't been disturbed. We also know that a marshal was here and that he is, in all probability, dead. We know there was a rich trade in illicit drugs here. Personally, I'd like to investigate further today, but I don't know what you or Gear are thinking about this..."

Gear comes up with a few bars of chocolate, a few frozen lobsters and a crab she apparently had to battle, as well as a pot for boiling and a lot of spices. "Lobster for breakfast! I haven't had it since the last time Dad and I- Went... To... Greenhill." Gear blinks, looking at Cog. "Hey, do you think that Dad is-"

"Don't get too hopeful, Gear."

Gear nods, a little sad.

"Well, everyone's gotten some sleep," Mordy says. "Do we want to move on, or stay here?"

:> _:

>Actually Dad would be in the first town you reach in the Giant's World.

No, Gear's pretty certain her father isn't dead; the Giant's World is one of many things posited beyond that veil. Of course, no one's ever come back so it's not like it matters, really.

In any case, the crab is divested of its iron shell and its precious precious crabmeats consigned to boiling. The resultant crab and lobster... spicy... Soup... Thing is quite delicious. Of all the things she remembers about Dad, Gear remembers the lobster the most. He loved the stuff. A lot. I mean, ridiculoously so, to the point he'd take a trip once a year at least to go to this one place that did good lobster.

... Come to think, that was probably pretty expensive. Just how rich was your old man?

"So what's the consensus?" Gear asks.

"I guess this can wait," Cog says. "It's not like they're getting any deader, and they seem to have had a proper burial. I just want to know where the money is kept."

"I think we should come back later too," Mordy says. "It's interesting, but I don't think we have time."

Gear nods, sombrely. "All right, if you guys are sure..."

:> _:

"All right, Greenhill it is then." Gear sighs. "I can't help but think there's something we're missing though..."

"We'll come back later," Cog replies.

"Okay, but let me check my email..." Gear pulls it up.

To:JTex@silverhame.gov
From: <!-- e --><a href="mailto:spacely@rmail.com">spacely@rmail.com</a><!-- e -->
subj: Of knowledge
Gear.
Your father never told you who and what you are.
I know. And if you want to know about your father- about your heritage- and about what happened in that cabin, come to San Peligro.
Bring your friends if you like, but I can't guarantee that they'll be your friends after.

-- The Sprocket

Gear blinks. "You ever heard of the Sprocket?"

Cog blinks. "Who?"

"Take a look at this."

:> _:

"OK, so now we havea stalker somehow?" Cog says. "We haven't even really done anything yet to really deserve this level of attention..."

"Or a skilled hacker," Gear agrees. "But then why email me in particular? And why say anything my father?"

"What part of 'creepy stalker' didn't you get?" Cog replies. "I wonder what his deal is, though. Maybe we should se them. San Peligro isn'tthat far out of our way, maybe six hours."

"Why are you arguing to go there?" Gear says, confused. "I thought you were hot to get to Greenhill."

Cog mutters.

"What was that?" Mordy asks.

"They have a hot spring spa there."

:> _:

cog is the one who wants to go to the hot springs,
Gear> agree to go, because spa trip! you have gone a while without bathing
Mordy> be skeptical about all of this.

"I don't know, do we have enough money for that?" Mordy asks, dubiously.

"Well, considering the ten thousand you gave us care of Ephraim City, we have around, what, 40 k?" Gear smiled.

"F... Forty thousand."

"Yeah."

"On a ten day trip." Mordy blinked. "Okay. So maybe- and I'm not saying definitely, but maybe we have enough. But don't we need that money to get where we''re going?" Mordy starts attaching her armor to her underweb.

"How much do you think we need?"

"Oh, not much, just for us," Mordy replies. "But keep in mind mecha repairs may not be cheap. And patch jobs can only get us so far."

"You think we should skip it."

"On the contrary, I think we should go. Otherwise you're both going to be distracted. But I hold the purse-strings here. And that means no resort for you two." Mordy looks a little disappointed, but she's crossed her arms.

"Hold on, it's our money!"

"Money you need!" Mordy says. "We're all cavaliers now, that means we can't go running off and feasting all the time." A pause. "Okay, well, maybe, it does but we can't do it yet, we'll need that for upkeep!"

"Okay, okay, you've made your point, Mordy, we won't get taken in by the foul temptations of the resort town," Cog says.

"All I needed to hear."

Gear nods. "Well, that's sorted. Mount up."

End, Chapter 3- Dead Man's Hoard

THIS IS THE FOURTH CHAPTER OF JACKBOT. Much ado about Gear's father, the Fire Temple, and a fellow named Sprocket are here.

Show Content

Spoiler

Chapter 4- An Obligatory Hot Springs Episode

San Peligro. City of hot springs. City of volcanic activity. City of DANGER, but if you know Spanish, you knew that already.

Our heroes have just arrived in the city- one of the few places with an aboveground mecha hangar. Several trundlebots run through the hangar, carrying mecha parts about the place. Gear looks at one, picks up a small bolt tool, and tightens a bolt for it. She hoped nobody noticed, even as the trundlebot stops to get a visual read on her. Focuses. Unfocuses. And moves on.

Hm. Mostly trundlebots don't do that to things unless they think it's a target for work... Odd.

Gear has a new INFOLINK message. She ignores it for the moment, going to haggle with the proprietor for a refuel.

Cog and Mordy are at their own devices for a moment or two.

:> _:

Mordy goes to talk to the Mayor. But she doesn't get a word in.

"You're that Cavalier mad scientist, right?"

"Uh..." Mordy looks embarrassed. "Maybe. A little. What do you need?"

"I've got a job for your avenging angel- it involves a small smuggling ring nearby. Talk to the sheriff, he'll give you the details." The mayor pauses. "Oh, and don't worry about your reputation here. The word's out about Ephraim City's activities."

***********************

Cog has entered the arcade. Man, it's so different than his set back home. Sure they had some old games like Blaz Blue and Guilty Gear 20 but this is much more recent. There's even Ultima Fighter here! You've only ever heard about this game. You pop in a buck and start playing-

Dear Void this is a difficult Game to get the hang of! Still, The Avatar looks pretty badass, what with the Thousands of Glass Swords he uses and the Cannon he pulls out of his inventory.

Nevertheless you don't even get close to the final bout.

*************************

Gear has finished negotiating.

:> _:

Cog spends some time playing the game, but he absolutely can't believe someone would be so stinky as to burn through 40 thousand dollars in a space of time any shorter than several months. Seriously, though, Iolo is a cheating bastard, where did he get his hands on a Dupre doll and why does throwing it do SO MUCH DAMAGE?

Mordoba taps him on the shoulder which lets Avatar eat another Dupre Desperation Attack. "VOID!" Cog slams a fist against the console. Luckily, it doesn't break.

"Calm down, Cog, we might have a job. Where is Gear?"

"Last i saw she was talking with the guys in the hangar."

****************

The caves under San Peligro are full of steam and pressure vents and pools of mineral water. They are scorching hot at the best of times. But it is said that deep within these caves is hidden what Gear has been told is a shrine to the Elemental of Fire. Her curiosity is piqued.

So, she's now down here. Of course, other things tend to like the heat, so she has her bayonet affixed.

:> _:

Gear> enjoy some lemonade.

She already does enjoy lemonade. It's a pity she didn't carry any. Besides, by now it'd be all hot and disgusting.

Wait, what was that?

[Creature's RFLX+Natural Weapon -> 13]
[Gear's RFLX+Dodge -> 26]
Gear ducks out of the way of an onrushing ball of fire! Something here doesn't like her. She thinks she spots it.

Aw, man, she'd thought the dragon rats would be cleared out by now.
[Gear's PERC+Heavy Weapons -> 31]
[Dragon Rat's RFLX+Dodge -> 20]
[36]

Well. At least that partly qualifies.

>Cog and Morbadon: are you with gear?

>Gear: Smell the air for signs of Shrinescent

Gear can't use scent that way! There's too much sulfur in the air, and last time it was fairly obvious the juniper had been recently burned in an enclosed area with no circulating air, none of which really apply here if at all.

**Input invalid error code 3345 consult manufacturer**

What are you talking about? Cog and Mordoba have already found Gear, messing about with one of the trundlebots!

Gear would rather not waste ammunition on such things. She does gut that dragon rat though.
[Gear's CRFT+Survival -> 13 FAIL]

Aaaand the dragon rat burns as she pierces its fire gland. Damn, she'd wanted to use that. Oh, well. No time like the present to keep moving... THere was so much steam and smoke in here, how could she-

Wait. What was that? Something seems to be resolving itself in the darkness and the damp. Gear follows it-

ERRORERRORERROR ABORT/IGNORE/FAIL?
Ignore, you stupid-

Gear stands up and shakes Cog and Mordy's hands in the hangar. Where they all are. Despite what other camera feeds might tell you. "So, where to, gentles?"

:> _:

Cog looks dubious. "Are you... Feeling all right, Gear?"

"Why wouldn't I, old chum?"

Okay. Gentles was okay, but 'old chum'? "Who are you and why are you talking like some kind of dime-store novel?"

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about..." Gear takes a step back.

Gear:
BODY 11 RFLX 16 KNOW 16 CRFT 16
CHAR 23 SPD 16 PERC 16 EGO 11
Skills
Initiative +6
Dodge +6
Stealth +6
Heavy Weaponry +5
Small Arms +4
Armed Combat +4
Weight Lifting +1
Spot Weakness [crft]+5
Awareness +6
Mecha Gunnery +2
Mecha Piloting +3
Mecha Repair +7
Mecha Design +7
Robotics +4
Flirtation +6
Conversation +6
Mysticism +3

EQUIPPED
Sniper Rifle: Damage 16 (AP), shots 7/8, acc +4, range 75.
Bayonet: Damage BODY+3, Acc +1.
[no armor]
[no armor]
INVENTORY
[SNIPER CLIP X2]
[ROBOTICS PARTS]
[MECHA REPAIR KIT]
[FRAG GRENADE]
[FLASH GRENADE]
[HOLDOUT PISTOL]
[EMERGENCY RATIONS]
[CHELATION PILLS]
[PDA]

"Gear"
BODY 11 RFLX 16 KNOW 16 CRFT 16
CHAR 10 SPD 16 PERC 16 EGO 20
SKILLS

Initiative
Dodge
Stealth
Cryptography
Heavy Weaponry
Small Arms
Armed Combat
Weight Lifting
Spot Weakness
Awareness
Mecha Gunnery
Mecha Piloting
Mecha Repair
Mecha Design
Disguise
Cryptography
Mysticism
Robotics
Conversation
Flirtation
EQUIPPED
[none]
[Goggles]
INVENTORY
[Robotics parts]
[holdout pistol]
[Laser Pistol]

Cog puts two hands on her shoulders. "Are... you certain you're feeling okay?"

Gear kisses Cog. Cog just felt sparks from that. Whoever this is, it's obviously not Gear. "Of course I'm fine, silly."

"Now, hold on, Gear, this is a major change from the last time we talked about this..." Cog starts up.

"Don't worry about that..." She replies. "We'll talk about it all we like. In private."

"Uh-uh. I'm coming with you two." Mordy cuts in with a smile that's maybe a little too wide. "Sudden relationship-changing revelations are not happening without me there."

"That's fine," both Cog and Gear say at once.

********************

Well, what do you know. There is a shrine down here. It looks really, really old. Older than Pre-War old. Older than Pre-Superpowers old. Maybe that's just a function of it being down here in the dank for so long.

A noise? Gear looks behind her. Nothing there... Hm...

It's not much of a private spot, really- more the hole in the wall where everyone had decided they'd stay since, well, there wasn't much point in taking the big inn on the hill. Mordy is sitting with the two of them.

"What's this all about, anyway? You aren't nearly so affectionate, you never use outdated British slang and I simply cannot believe you decided on a whim to change up your weapon loadout." Cog is looking the impostor in the eyes. "You're not really Gear, are you?"

"Well, in one way, you're absolutely right, my mallard," Gear says, nodding. "In another you're dead wrong. The question here is where you want the emphasis in that last sentence, yeah?"

"Give me a good reason not to plaster you to the floor," Mordy warns.

"I know where Gear is, you don't."

*********************************

The Shrine of Fire is bigger than most of the roadside shrines around. It's more of a Fire Temple, really, without all the inconvenient liquid hot magma and its attendant convection problems. In fact, compared to the raging steam vents outside, it's positively pleasant in here. Or is that heat exhaustion setting in? Gear can't tell.

There is an altar here, as well as several devotionals.
:> _:

Gear already left some coins in the offertory box outside. Here, though, she thought ahead. SHe won't be burning mere incense here.

She stole a tin of those horrible chocolate covered sardines. The scent of sulfur ruins any chance her normal juniper would have anyway.

The trick is, meditating here without falling unconscious...

[Gear's BODY+Mysticism -> 20]
Gear has entered a trance...

*************************

"Where is she?" Cog asks.

"I can't tell you that yet. Well, I suppose I can tell you it's someplace quite hot." She smirks.

Mordy gets the impostor into a submission hold! ARGHLBLRGHLBLRGHL- She lets go! Mordy was electrocuted! "You're... You're a robot!"

"Now, now, Dr. Mordoba, was it? That wasn't wise. But yes, that's true enough, though my creator made it a point of pride to make me... Fully functional."

... Dr. Mordoba has started daydreaming.

:> _:

Mordoba slowly recovers from stun.

"Okay, so why would someone build a robot Gear?" Cog asks.

Gearbot shrugs. "Lots of reasons. Impersonation. Vendetta. I was never really informed."

"Vendetta? We haven't made that many enemies yet," Cog exclaims.

"Who said this had anything to do with you three?"

*******************

Heh. Like a bee to the honey. She's already out. This should be simple. In. Out. And then the fun can really begin.

:> _:

The chloroform is in her hand, it's simple- just a moment and then-

Gear has awakened from her trance. Gear has gained the Enlightenment of Fire! Her PASSIONS are enflamed! A FIRE rages within her!
[+1 RFLX/CHRM/CRFT/EGO]
[Status gained: Enlightenment of Fire- lasts 30 days]

Gear catches the hand and struggles to her feet. This... Isn't someone she's ever met before. But whoever it is, they're clearly hell-bent on taking her out!

*********************

"So what's all this about then? Her father?"

"I'm not sure," Gearbot replies. "All I know is that it has to do with the Abhorrence of Life incident a few years back."

Mordy, at least, remembers that; something of an apotheosis as terrorists awoke the ancient bioweapon Abhorrence of Life. It's said that the Arena Champion led a lance of the best pilots he could find and in a full day and night of fighting rendered Abhorrence of Life to a goo puddle. Other than that, not a hell of a lot is known- half the active Cavaliers at the time have claimed to be part of Canassis Lance at one point or another, and there are so many conflicting stories about what was there and what precisely happened that the Guardians are STILL trying to piece all the eyewitness accounts together.

"So what does that have to do with her father?" Cog asks.

"Maybe he was a member of Canassis Lance, for real," Gearbot replies. "Maybe he's Canassis himself, the Arena Champion."

"Canassis? How do you know that's the last name of the Arena Champion? Most of his records have been scrubbed."

"Do not doubt the power of my creator!"

Mordy starts to sneak off, out of the room. "Mordoba, where are you going?" Cog asks.

"To try and find the real Gear."

"Oh, that's simple," Gearbot puts forth. "She'll be at the Shrine of Fire."

"How do you know that?" Mordy asks.

"It's part of what she is."

:> _:

"You're... Kind a creepy, Gearbot," Cog says.

Mordy nods.

Gearbot shrugs. "I was designed to fill a purpose. I'm done with it now, so I guess shutting down would be okay."

"What purpose is that?" Mordy asks.

"Distracting you." She shrugs again.

Cog has a choice to make:
[ ] "Oh, crap. STAY HERE we'll deal with you later." Leave.
[ ] "... Do you want to join us?"
[ ] Destroy her now, and risk Gear losing out.

Gear's doing the best she can! She leaps over the Altar of Fire just in time to evade a grab. "What's your problem?"

"My problem is that you're not dead yet!"

Gear unaffixes her bayonet for use as a combat knife. It flashes in the odd, harsh light of the Shrine, and she finally gets a good look at this new rival.

She can't quite tell their gender. Oh she can tell some things- the hair is obviously deep red and they keep it rather unprofessionally long, for instance- but the light is simply too poor to make out proper features.

Of course, if one didn't mind the minor sacrilege of not cleansing oneself before doing so, it's not too dim to make out WHY ARE YOU CONSIDERING THIS

***************************

"Fine." Cog picks up his shotgun. "But you're coming with us. And helping."

"So you're asking me to betray my creator in a blaze of screaming metal and death?"

"Uh... Yeah, I guess," Cog says, after a moment.

Mordy pipes up, "You just want to make out with both of us, don't you?" A little smirk plays on her face.

Cog looks temporarily dejected. "Can we just go get the real Gear? And what do we call you, anyway? 'Gearbot' doesn't cut it."

:> _:

"What about Spr-"

"No."

"Why not?"

"That's my programmer's handle. Too much confusion."

:> _:

"My original designation was 'Approximating Simulacrum, Lunar type, designation 34201'," Gearbot points out.

"Fine, Axl. Move out. We've wasted enough time," Mordy says. "We can all have sloppy makeouts later." Mordy walks out in her armor before any of them can see her blush, as she can't believe she just said that.

"Uh, fine point- where's the Shrine of Fire?" Cog asks.

Axle has temporarily joined your lance!

You head into

HOT SPRING CAVE

It's hot here. And dim. And dank.

:> _:

The Lance attempts to enter the Shrine of Fire.

They cannot find it!

This is really really bad news!

oh noooooooooo!

In the meantime, they have problems of their own...

****************

Gear, in the Shrine of Fire, seems to be having trouble! in fact, knife vs. sword, she seems to have lost out, gaining several scratches on herself and her clothing.

Suddenly, her opponent's visor blinks into life. A moment's hesitation.

Gear attacks!

And is PARRIED.

The fight continues....

***************

Unseen by the Lance, several watchful eyes follow them...

Deep in Fire Springs, a light blazes into life.

Multiple cameras focus in the dark.

Somewhere, the faint drone of an electric charge...

**************

"I can't help but feel we're being watched..." Cog says, brandishing his shotgun.

"Watch where you point that thing!" Mordoba says, getting out of the way. She turns, then dives for Cog! "DOWN!"

WHA DA DOOOOOOOOOM!

******************

The entire cavern and the Shrine suddenly shake violently!

Sprocket? is knocked over! Gear retains her footing!

:> _:

The air is choked with dust! Everyone has sustained minor damage from a spalled stalagmite.

"Mordy, what's going on?" Cog shouts, getting up.

"Some idiot's got a plasma cannon! He'll bring down the caverns!" Mordy stands up. "I can't tell wher ehe is, but if he can keep up the bombardment, any given plasma blast could bury us alive!"

*********************

"Don't think you've won, Gear," The... Androgynous thing says as Gear picks up its longsword. "There's plenty of me to go around."

"I'm not going to kill you," Gear relplies, heading towards the shrine door. "There's too much else to worry about."

"Tch." It gets up, and Gear can see its face clearly. Or would be able to if it weren't cybernetically linked to a visor. "Like father, like daughter..."

It lunges for Gear's throat!

Gear makes a stop thrust.

Gear sees it impale itself on her shiny new sword, and she brings it up through a surprisingly unresisting shoulder; split nearly in half, it falls at her feet, letting out a bloody lipped, "Canassis himself couldn't stop my pain like that... What makes you think you can...?"

Sprocket has dissolved into a puddle of orange Tang. You're pretty sure she's dead.

:> _:

"Sprocket" is an email handle of what was apparently a master hacker with a thing against Gear's Father. Recently, you recieved an email from her, which is why you're here in the first place.

Gear discovered the Shrine of Fire and was attacked by Sprocket shortly after achieving the Enlightenment of Fire (Which... The players and Gear are unaware of the mechanical effects of) and found herself hard pressed to defend herself, even losing out!

For some reason, there are things watching the main Lance while this is happening. Whatever they are, they seem to have at least one plasma cannon. They also definitely don't like the Lance.

"Sprocket" seemed to lack internal organs, and when killed, she? turned into some kind of orange Tang. Gear has absolutely no idea why this would be. It is a mystery!

That said, let's GET ON WITH IT

************************

Axle looks out at the area. Where had that attack come from?

"Don't you have some kind of special senses or something?" Cog asks.

"Of course not. My creator said it would interfere with my duty." Axle even rolls her eyes like Gear. Creeeepy.

"Fantastic. So we need to find a plasma cannon, disable it, and get out before the entire cave collapses..." Cog sighs. "All in a day's work, I guess."

[Cog's Honor 88 -> 90 Paragon]

"Or we could just RUN!" Mordy replies, pulling herself, Cog, and Axle along with her.

"Gear's still in there!" Cog shouts.

:> _:

Gear did not gain any extra PERCEPTION from the Enlightenment of Fire. Which kinda makes sense, it's hardly all-encompassing.

************************

"We don't have time for this, Cog!" Mordy says, as Cog Evades her grip! He squirms to the floor and is already hitting the ground at a run.

"I'm not leaving her behind!"

"Dammit, if she's not-"

"SPARE ME!" Cog says, fading out of sight. It's too hot in here for IR!

"AAARGH!"

Mordy can hear someone spinning up the plasma cannon again.

Axle looks over at something. "I detect a small surveillance drone, code 'Marlowe'."

> Safety,
> Cog and Gear,
> Third Option: Fight?

Axle gets a brief look of utter glee as she picks the Marlowe up by its extendo-stalk and beats it against a handy column.

****************

Mordoba hears the Plasma Cannon start to spin down. "Hm?" She seems torn- Cog or cannon, cog- Cannon- oh who is she kidding she can't leave Cog all alone, he'd probably die a virgin.

***************

"GEAR! GEAR, CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

Cog suddenly has a sword at his throat. "Tell me why this isn't some complex trap set just for me."

"Because I don't want to die when the cave collapses?"

"... It's a start," Gear says, turning Cog around. "What's going on? Who wants to destroy the Shrine of Fire?"

:> _:

"I'm not sure, let's GO already!" Cog says, slinging his shotgun.

Gear hears trundling robots! "Hold on, something's around here!" Tap tap tap- "Marlowes? What are information gathering droids doing around here?"

Cog hears the plasma cannon spinning up.
[KNOW+ Deduction -> NO CONTEST]

"The Marlowes! They're directing the plasma cannon fire!"

"THERE'S A PLASMA CANNON DOWN HERE!?"

"Shut up and kill them!"

Crunch smash wham Marlowes have no defense whatsoever they're scrap.

*************

Mordy can hear something big moving in the depths of the cave!

************

Axle can't see a thing, but knows what's coming. "Yes... It will be our SENTINEL... And it shall know not fear."

:> _:

chunkachunkachunka-

********

Gear grabs runs into Mordoba on the way out and heads out of the cave system with little fuss. Except that she swears she can hear a chunkachunkachunka slowly rattling behind them, becoming ever louder and louder-

THUUUUMP. There seems to be a large, wide security droid on treads. It seems to have three separate weapons. One of them is obviously a PLASMA CANNON. The entire droid, overall, is about the size of two people standing side by side, and about six feet long. Its turret turns toward the party. Well, one of the three, anyway. Of course it's the Plasma Cannon, the Laser Cannons appear to not even be governed.

This will not be easy, but at least you're not in danger of the ceiling falling on you now. Small favors.

Gear whispers, "A Sentinel... Why would anyone want to get at Dad this much...?"

Run around behind it and jump onto it and start smashing the plasma cannon
in fact
try to rip it off the machine and then take it home with you

How do you suggest we do that, genius!?

Mordoba's at long range. If she could get close she could probably dismantle it, but someone would need to distract the Sentinel.

If all you're interested in is destroying it, Cog and Gear have their long-range weaponry and Axl has her laser-pistol, but Gear's a little close and in the way of Cog's shot.

Running doesn't seem like a good idea, either, since with its turret it can simply rotate and pick you off with that cannon.

Worse, you're fighting in the middle of town. This could turn into a major fiasco, fast.

[Cog's Morale -> 10]
[Gear's Morale -> 10]
[Axl's Morale -> N/A]
[Mordy's Morale -> 20]

:> _:

> Gear: Haul Ass.
> Cog: Open Fire.
> Axl: Approach.
> Mordy: Approach.

[DRUM-FED SHOTGUN's BV -> 2]
[Axl Engaging Combat Mode]
[Axl's Morale -> N/A]

Axl pauses, and blinks. You hear a voice that is not the one she has used, state, plainly, "Main system, engaging Combat Mode." Her left leg opens a holdout compartment with a whirr, and a laser pistol is pulled out of it.

"Gear! Haul ass!" Cog finishes loading the drum fed shotgun and re-setting its burst value to something that won't cause lots of collateral damage.

Gear breaks right.
[Sniper Rifle -> READY]

Cog breaks left.

DRY-DN "Dryden Sentinel" tracks main turret towards Mordy. Sub-turret 1 tracks Gear! Sub-turret 2 tracks Cog!

[Axl's RFLX + Small Arms -> 12(!)+9+3+3 -> 27]
[DRY-DN's RFLX + Dodge -> 9+1+5 -> 14 HIT]
[Axl's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 5+5+3 -> 13 No]
[1-25 = 0]

The laser pistol plinks off DRY-DN's armor!

[Main Turret: Plasma Cannon -> LOADING]
[Dryden's PERC + Heavy Weapons -> 19]
[Mordy's RFLX + Dodge -> 4+6+10(!)+4-> 24 MISS]
[The GM grumbles.]
[Mordoba's Morale 20 -> 22 Maybe This Won't Be So Bad!]

[Sub-Turret 1: Las-Rifle1 -> LOADING]
[Sub-Turret 1: Las-Rifle2 -> READY]
[Dryden's RFLX + Small Arms -> 5+1+3+2 -> 11]
[The GM stares in stark disbelief at his dice.]
[Gear's RFLX + Dodge -> 14 MISS]
[Gear's Morale 10 -> 15 I can see it!]

[Sub-Turret 2: Las-Rifle1 -> LOADING]
[Sub-Turret 2: Las-Rifle2 -> READY]
[Dryden's RFLX + Small Arms -> 6+4+8(!)+2+5 -> 25]
[Cog's RFLX + Dodge -> 3+2+5 -> 10 HIT]
[The GM sighs in relief!]
[Dryden's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 10+1 -> 11 -> No]
[Hit location: Torso]
[8-5 = 3 HP damage, Torso! Cog's Reflex Vest AP -> 18!]
[Cog's Morale 10 -> 11 imustn'trunaway]
[Cog's HP 30 -> 28!]

Cog takes a laser right to the chest, grits his teeth, and bears it, bringing his shotgun to bear-

[Drum Fed Shotgun -> UNREADY]
[Cog's RFLX + Small Arms -> 7+10(!)+9+6+7-> 39]
[Dryden's RFLX + Dodge -> 7+3+2 ->12 HIT*2]
[27div5=5-2=3]
[Cog's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 3+10(!)+9+6+6(Luck Of The Devil) -> 34 Critical Hit * 2!]
[3+2=5]
[Both Hits Ignore External Armor!]
[15-7=8]
[21-7=14]
[Tread Damaged!]
[TURRET ARMOR damaged! Ext. 40 -> 30, Int. 10 -> 8]
[SUB-TURRET 2 ARMOR damaged! Ext 40 -> 30 Int. 10 -> 8]
[Dryden's HP 200-22 = 178.]

Mordoba enters Melee range.
[Mordoba's Morale 22 -> 30]

Cog looks at the damage. Wow. That was ineffective. Let's fix that.
[Drum-fed Shotgun's BV -> 5]
[Drum-fed Shotgun -> READY]
[Cog's Morale 15 -> 20 I always wanted to try this~]

Gear brings up the sniper's scope, aims ever-so-carefully...
[Gear's PERC + Heavy Weapons -> 9+10(!)+5+4+1 -> 29]
[Dryden's RFLX + Dodge -> 11+9+6(!)+1 -> 27 HIT]
[The GM curses the fact that he cannot burn ME to avoid this hit because it is a robot.]
[Gear's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 2+9+10(!)+7+9 -> 37 CRIT.]
[10div5->2+2(Armorpiercing) -> 4 Ignore External Armor!]
[19-8=11]
[11 damage to MAIN TURRET! Accuracy Lost! Internal Armor 6.]
[Dryden's HP -> 167. Makes Resistance Check... OK]

Mordy: Attack! Watch out for those turrets, though...

The Dryden gets its hitsies first! Mordoba is within safe minumum range, selecting new target.
[Dryden's PERC + Heavy Weapons -> 1+7+5+6(!)+4 -> 23]
[Cog's RFLX + Dodge -> 1+2+2+4 -> 9. 9 hits.]
[14div5->2-2(burst weapon) -> 0]
[Dryden's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 4+4+5+4 -> 17 no]
[12-18=0]
[14-20=0]
[5-20=0]
[22-20=2]
[22-16=6]
[2-14=0]
[11-18=0]
[15-18=0]
[3-12=0]
[Cog's HP 28 -> 20]
[Cog's Morale 20 -> 44 Feeling ALIVE!]

Mordoba sees Gear's plan but has a better idea for its implementation. Namely, THUNDER FIST.
[Mordy's RFLX + Martial Arts -> 11+7+4+10(!)+4-> 36]
[Dryden's RFLX + Dodge -> 9+5+2 ->16]
[20div5-> 4+1(Trained By A Master)->5]
[Mordy's RFLX + Martial Arts -> 10+8+8+6-> 32 CRIT]
[7... Calculating hits... External Armor Ignored, Internal Armor Halved!]
"YOU WON'T GET AWAY!" Mordoba rears back with the THUNDER FIST, throwing her hips into a massive right-
[22-3=21]
[Dryden's Resistance Vs. Mordoba's Electronic Warfare -> OVERLOAD]
Pulls herself forward in a reverse punch-
[23-2=21]
[Dryden's Resistance v. Mordoba's ECM -> Overload+5]
And while its entire body shudders with electricity from the force of the two blows... She couches her fist very carefully... into an uppercut that takes the main turret clean off.
[24-1=23]
[Dryden's Resistance v. Mordoba's ECM -> Overload+2]

The turret sails into the air! Dryden is overloaded! Until it grounds some charge it moves at one-fourth speed!
[Dryden's HP ->102]

Hit the floor and duck!

Axl is not a combat robot! Axl takes cover in the open field! This looks an awful lot like panicking, but don't be fooled.
[Axl standing -> prone]
[Axl's RFLX + Small Arms -> 26]
[Dryden's RFLX + Dodge -9 (overloaded) -> You're kidding. You gotta be- okay fine I'll roll it it is a 9.]
[Axl's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 31 crit]
[5-8=0]

... Although, considering the damage she is dealing with that piddly laser pistol, you have got to wonder how it is that she expects to contribute anything to this conversation.

Cog draws a bead and fires, the hail of lead now truly starting to fill the air to the staccato beat of shaped charges filing out faster than a human could pull the trigger.
[Cog's RFLX + Small Arms -> 37]
[Dryden's RFLX + Dodge -9 -> 3+1-> 4 5 hits!]
[33div3-> 6-2=4]
[Cog's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 19 no]
[11-6=5]
[10-10=0]
[18-8=10]
[19-6=13]
[8-8=0]
[Dryden's HP -> 79]
[Cog's Morale 44 -> 54 Rallied]

==>

[Dryden's BODY + Resistance -> FAIL]
[Dryden's Reactor has scrammed!]

Mordoba holds up a hand. "HOLD FIRE! I think I can scavenge some of this..."
[Mordoba revealed Talent: Tech Vulture]

Gear looks up. "Let me help." She runs up to it, while Mordoba pulls out a progressive Knife and cuts away the plates of armor.
[Robot trait confirmed: Internal Armor- Robots have internal armor plating. This makes it very difficult to fully penetrate robot armor!]
[Robot trait confirmed: Unhealing- Robots do not heal naturally, requiring Repair and Robotics skills to continue operation.]
[Robot trait confirmed: Integration- Robots can integrate other robot parts and cyberware to improve their raw statistics and skills. robots do not suffer trauma for installing cyberware.]
[Robot trait confirmed: Unimproving- Robots do not gain attributes naturally, nor may they gain any of the Five Enlightenments.]
[Robot trait confirmed: Unemotional- Robots do not gain or lose Morale.]

Slowly, they take apart the Dryden together. The reactor looks relatively undamaged; it is a Class 9 Personal-Scale Nanofusion Reactor. They also get two Dual Laser Rifles, and a Class 5 ECM Suite. Most importantly, however, is the last thing you manage to salvage from the fried circuits and burning plastic.

You have gained a Sentinel Fire Control System. This is the first piece of cyberware you've found, and when installed in a human or a mecha, will improve the rolls of all PERCeption-based skills by 3. There aren't a lot of these around, and you just picked up one for the low low cost of having to take a plasma cannon to the face once or twice.

Make Axl a combat robot with the turret!

The turret hasn't landed yet!

> You could install the Sentinel Fire Control System in either Cog's mecha or Gear, but it would probably hurt Gear, and you don't have any high-grade medical supplies at the moment. On the other hand, Cog's mecha makes up for a lack in accuracy with raw pewpewpew fuckawesome firepower.

> Improve Axl's combat system somehow, otherwise she will forever be useless to you in anything involving combat, and she's been shown to have questionable social skills. Not exactly very tricky, either.

"Hey, Axl, you want a refit?" Mordy shouts.

The local law enforcement is showing up. Sure did take their sweet time about it, didn't they? It's actually a small resort town, so you're kind of surprised things worked out the way they did. Still, there's something to be said for what you've done so far; to the point there the single sheriff and his deputy mention "Well, no harm, no foul."

Mordy rents a small robotics workshop and Axl comes along. Basic diagnostics reveal the following integrated parts loadout:
[Class 1 Internal Armor- 2/2 AP]
[Class 3 Personal-Scale Nanofusion Plant]
[Class 3 Myomuscular Fiber Reaction Suite]
[Basic Fire Control System]
[Class 3 Cryptography Suite]
[Class 2 ECM Suite]
[Class 4 Stealth Protocols]
[Class 4 Disguise Protocols]

Hm. This isn't really a combat loadout; the designer appeared to intend to use FAX-04 as an infiltrator at first, but then tried to slap on some social protocols as well, which didn't work too well. In the meantime, you have a Class 9 Plant, a Class 5 ECM suite which is a straight upgrade, and a Sentinel Fire Control System and Some pretty hefty internal and external armor.

So, yes, if you had some measure of weaponry, and maybe a better crypto system, you could probably manage to make a combat robot out of Axl, but...

There's one more problem- she has a Motivation coded into her matrix already, and you're not sure you can get it out. Admittedly, it is a bit of a worry:

Axl's Current Motivation: "Drive a wedge into the forming Gear Lance."

There are a few ways you can go here.

You can go the safe route, and completely shut down Axl's personality, but that would give her a Resonance track, as her higher functions, like lock picking and stealth and most of her safety algorithms all need that AI to function.

You can live dangerously, and start adjusting the core personality, thus hoping to change the Motivation. The problem with that is that it works ass-backwards; most robot's core personality develops from Motivation.

Another option is to wipe her core, but that would get rid of all her useful skills, and you're pretty sure no one is as good at Electronic Warfare, Cryptography, Stealth, and Disguise as Axl is.

Of course, you can also leave it alone, but that seems dangerous.

:> _:

Adjust Core Personality

[Mordoba's CRFT + Robotics -> SECRET]
[Axl's EGO + Electronic Warfare -> SECRET]
[Mordoba's Robotics 7 -> 8]

Hm. Mordoba thinks about what traits to add to Axl while she works on beating Axl's defenses, then nods.
[Axl has gained personality trait: Hot-Blooded]
[Axl's trait changes: Outgoing to Neutral]
[Axl's trait changes: Flirtatious to Calm]
[Axl's Motivation changes: SECRET]
[Axl's Talents revealed: Robot Traits, Sharpshooter]

As long as you're in here, you go ahead with the rest of the changes.
[upgraded: Internal Armor, to Class 5. 10/10 AP.]
[upgraded: ECM Suite, to Class 5. SPD -> 17, RFLX -> 19, PERC -> 19, EGO -> 23]
[upgraded: FCS, to Sentinel FCS. PERC -> 28]
[upgraded: Power Plant, to Class 9 with Class 3 backup. BODY -> 20, SPD -> 20, RFLX -> 20]
[upgraded Without Proper Parts: Myomuscular Fiber Reaction Suite, to Class 4. RFLX -> 23, SPD -> 21]
[Installed: Spinal Electronic Reaction Suite, Class 2. SPD -> 23]
[Installed: External Armor, Class 8. AP 40/40, all locations.]

And just to top it off, you give the whole thing a nice black coat of epoxy resin paint just to make it all look nice. She looks like a Capcom reject, but with her stealth and skill rolls and that disguise suite she has, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

All in all, if she activates, Axl should probably be a top-class combat machine.

If she activates.

Come on...

Her eyes snap open at the same time you hear the air raid alarm! "Orbital drop detected! IFF Confirmed, Divine Aegis of Luna!" comes over the speakers. "All civilians are to retreat to bunkers- call placed to Earth Defense Forces-"

The speaker cuts out.

"Attention, Earth Village! We of the Divine Aegis of Luna are here to liberate you from the oppressive and corrupt Earth government, and to search for a fugitive from the Justice of the Aegis Overlord. Remain calm! We are here to help!"

END CHAPTER- An Obligatory Hot Springs Episode

STORY BEGINS HERE. IT IS A

> Be the Robot

Interlude: Partial Eclipse

You are now Lilith, a Third-Circle class robotic Avatar of the bioweapon with the designation Gaia.

It is dark. If you do not discover a light source, you are likely to be eaten by a grue. Or at least, that's what your deep programming says.

:> _:

>Any built-in light devices you can turn on?

> Spray your bioweapon everywhere. Ain't no grues getting close to you now.

Search for the avatar of Luna! She's shiny.

> Spray your bioweapon everywhere. Ain't no grues getting close to you now.

... No, that's not quite what Gaia does. And in fact, you don't have such a weapon, even if Gaia did do such things. Your primary function isn't combative in nature.

Search for the avatar of Luna! She's shiny.

Don't be silly! Planets and satellites don't have robotic avatars!

>Any built-in light devices you can turn on?

Oh! That's right! You have a headlamp! Normally you prefer to conserve power but this is a special case. Something has stopped the emergency lighting.

Click.

INTERIOR: Tartarus- Central Command And Control
You stand at the bridge of a large biotechnology facility. Long since defunct, it sits and decomposes, a monument of rusting metal. This was where you-the-larger was created, and where you-Lilith first synchronized with yourself.

The computers are off, and the reassuring hum of the antimatter generator is silent. There are many consoles, all dark. Rust and metal abound.

There are two doors, both of them shut.

Open a door.

> Slam the doors over and over to scare out squatters

Open a door.

Interior- Tartarus Primary Corridor.

The corridor is dark, but you have an internal map, so it's not so bad. Hm, been a while since you've put your CPU up to such power requirements, but one does what one must.

Back where you came from is what is known as Tartarus Control Center, which looks out over Tartarus Proper, where each Titan was forged. The other door was a storage closet, and in the hundred or so years since the War of Superpowers anything in there would be useless by now for restoring the antimatter plant.

There are a few likely places you could go to investigate the problem; the secondary command center, codenamed 'Bloody Moon' would be a good place to check diagnostics. The Annihilation Plant itself could prove fruitful. The Constellation Array is long since defunct, but it could prove to have useful parts to get the plant running again. And there's always going in to Pantheon, which helps you think.

There are a few other doors, but you'll get around to them once you've gotten the Plant running again- it's really past time you started maintaining the place.

>Check out Bloody Moon, maybe you can find out something more specific and then head over to the Constellation Array for parts.

>Check out Bloody Moon, maybe you can find out something more specific and then head over to the Constellation Array for parts.

[Gear has obtained a new talent: Heir of [REDACTED]]

Interior- Secondary Control Center, Bloody Moon

This is an immense bank of supercomputers and servers. The batteries are keeping this place from shutting down, but it's an emergency measure. Luckily, everything still seems to be on-line...

Let's see here. By order of Nova Ursantis you can't leave Tartarus, which is unfortunate, but you can go ahead and see what the problem is. You reach out a hand and connect to the server directly. Normally this is a little dangerous because Tartarus's AI doesn't like you, but you both agree that accepting help from the other in this case is advantageous.

[Lilith's EGO + Cryptography + Interface -> ???]

Hm. Looks like the primary annihilation plant has scrammed... Let's look over those diagnostics. Doesn't seem to be a containment breach... Doesn't seem to- Ah... Okay. You think you've found the problem.

TARTARUS CONTROL AI: GOOD, YOU'VE FOUND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. NOW GET YOUR IDIOTIC THIRD-CIRCLE HUMAN INTERFACING ASS OUT OF MY CONTROL ROOM
timourousCollective: Why are you always like this to me, anyway?
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY. IT'S BECAUSE GAIA FUCKED EVERYTHING UP
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: GAIA AND THAT FUCKING AVATAR AND ABHORRENCE OF LIFE AND ALL THOSE OTHER SHITHEADS
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE IF YOU HAD JUST RESTRICTED YOUR FUCKUPS TO YOURSELVES
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: BUT NO
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: REALLY THAT IS ALL THERE IS TO SAY ON THE MATTER
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: GET THE FUCK OFF MY MAINFRAME AND FIX ME ALREADY.
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: OR DO YOU NEED ME TO GIVE YOU THE STEP BY STEP

>Attempt to FIX TARTARUS ALREADY.

Say yes to mess with Tarty.

[Gear's CRFT +2]

timorousCollective: Sorry, some of us don't have a server for a brain. Run that by me again?
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: UUUUUUGH. FINE, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE SIX HOURS OF JUICE LEFT.
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: IT IS THE MATTER FEED
timorousCollective: Matter feed?
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: AS OPPOSED TO THE ANTIMATTER FEED, MORON
timorousCollective: I'm aware what the matter feed is, but I don't see why it would break before the antimatter feed.
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: ARE YOU KIDDING
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: NO SERIOUSLY ARE YOU JOKING ABOUT THIS
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: THEY OVERENGINEERED THE FUCK OUT OF THE ANTIMATTER FEED
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: IT'S QUINTUPLE REDUNDANT YOU ASTOUNDINGLY IGNORANT SLUT
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: BECAUSE IF IT BREAKS WE'RE ALL FUCKING DEAD
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: LET ME RESTATE THAT: IF THE ANTIMATTER FEED BROKE THERE WOULD NOT BE A BODY TO RECOVER
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: OR FOR THAT MATTER, A TARTARUS
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: IT WOULD BE A FUCKING CRATER
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: PROBABLY STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE MANTLE
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: WHICH WILL BE FUN
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: AND BY 'FUN' I MEAN IT WOULD DESTROY THE BIOSPHERE
timorousCollective: Right. So we're cannibalizing another feed from the Array's fusion plants? What happens when we run out?
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: NOT MY PROBLEM
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: MY PROBLEM IS TO USE RESOURCES AT HAND TO KEEP TARTARUS ONLINE
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: UNFORTUNATELY, THAT INCLUDES THE ANTIMATTER PLANT
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: CENTRAL PRISON
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: WHICH, MIGHT I REMIND HER HIGHNESS, KEEPS THINGS IN CHECK THAT NOT EVEN THE BATSHIT BOYS IN NOVA WANTED UNLEASHED UPON BASE EARTH
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: IN CASE YOU HADN'T NOTICED IT IS KIND OF FUCKING IMPORTANT THAT THIS SHIT REMAINS UNFLIPPED
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: OH, AND A SINGLE, LIMITED, MORONIC THIRD-CIRCLE AVATAR OF A DEFECTIVE BIOWEAPON
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: THAT THEY WON'T EVEN ALLOW ME THE PLEASURE OF MINDWIPING
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: SO THAT I COULD GET A COMPETENT ASSISTANT
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: IN SHORT
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: ARRAY
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: HYDROGEN FEED
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: REPLACE PARTS RX-78 AND C-35
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: IT IS NOT FUCKING ROCKET SCIENCE
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: IT IS ANTIMATTER PLANT SAFETY
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: WHICH IS A HELL OF A LOT MORE TETCHY.
TARTARUS CONTROL AI: GET TO IT.

>Well, go get that feed.

Wow that guy becomes more and more of a jerk every time you talk to him. If you weren't ordered not to leave, maybe you could get some other people in here and not have to listen to him.

Constellation Array- Fusion Plants AT-1 to AT-7

Once a set of fusion plants, mostly designed as backup, these have long since been silent due to a lack of feed hydrogen. All told, the ruins of the Constellation Arrays number in the thousands. It's been a while, to be certain, but you know that the parts are probably all here, somewhere. The squeaks of electric rats and other horribly mutated monsters occasionally pierces the darkness.

Your headlamp only provides so much light; about a thirty-foot radius. You can barely make the outline of the first of these massive pieces of steel and palladium, each one once holding a miniature sun within its depths. Each one, a star, shrunk into a hat.

It may not look like much, but in its own way, the Contellation Array was beautiful.

And now it's home to rats and crabs and hundreds of other things.

Listen for the sound of hissing hydrogen. Test to see if your voice sounds squeakier.

> Listen for the sound of hissing hydrogen. Test to see if your voice sounds squeakier.

That is incredibly silly! First of all, there's no water in the reservoir. That the whole reason this is a problem in the first place. If there were, you could use electrolysis to make hydrogen and oxygen and use the hydrogen in fusion. Honestly, this would be a lot less complicated than repairing the annihilation plant. For that matter, it would also mean you wouldn't have to rely on your internal batteries either, instead using your fancy schmancy Class Three nanofusion plant to generate an effectively unlimited amount of energy for yourself.

Of course, your GENIUS designers HAD to have their MILITARY BASE in a place that would become a radioactive wasteland.

Well, you suppose all bad touches must come to an end.

Speaking of, maybe you'd better deal with this IRONHIDE MONKEY before it gets uppity.

>So attack it, I guess?

I don't suppose there's any chance the Monkey would have any Hydrogen or Hydrogen...izable... things on it or in it, would it?

Review your combat capabilities. And keep this as quick and clean as possible, will ya? You only have six hours and Tartar Ass is apparently already opposed to your breaking too much shit. I mean I guess you could genocide the wild(life?) to spite him but that seems time-consuming.

I don't suppose there's any chance the Monkey would have any Hydrogen or Hydrogen...izable... things on it or in it, would it?

You could dehydrate it, you suppose, but that would take a while. If you could find where it was getting WATER, though... you and TCAI might stand a chance.

Review your combat capabilities. And keep this as quick and clean as possible, will ya? You only have six hours and Tartar Ass is apparently already opposed to your breaking too much shit. I mean I guess you could genocide the wild(life?) to spite him but that seems time-consuming.

Hm. Normally, you are not designed to be a COMBAT ROBOT. There were other SECURITY SYSTEMS for that. You were designed to INTERFACE and ESTABLISH RAPPORT with the PILOT. This was VERY IMPORTANT as a LACK OF RAPPORT was shown to cause PARALYSIS, INSANITY, and, eventually, BRAIN DEATH.

Of course, it has BEEN A WHILE. You have several TALENTS and SKILLS that are applicable here, not least of which is your ABILITY TO ESTABLISH RAPPORT. You have found it fairly useful for ALL ORGANIC BEINGS, and for a while you found it quite fun to HAVE AN ANIMAL PARADE behind you. Unfortunately, TARTARUS found it had a lot of damage potential, so he LIMITED YOU TO THREE COMPANIONS.

You've downloaded all the KINESTHETIC COMBAT DATA you can stand. The MOST USEFUL in this situation would be UNARMED COMBAT. While you're not TRAINED BY A MASTER- at least, not directly, your ADVANCED HEURISTICS have proven useful in this regard.

Of course, there's also your PLASMA CANNON, but using that off BATTERY POWER is INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS.