>>424778
Grab some popcorn, show's about to start boy. Move out.

>>424778
is there anything we can do from here?

Jack Halsner 2012/06/29(Fri)10:25 No. 427382 ID: f72f26
File 134099071630.png - (338.81KB , 861x531 , Command50.png )

Gibly: "rooms clear, these robots went down before they even had time to charge their weapons, I don't think we're expected."

Halsner: "Exellent work"

Gibly: "Mantis informs me that the Stranners can self destruct this vehicle from both engineering and the control room. I'm thinking we should split up, sending one squad to secure engineering, one squad to secure Control and one squad the clear the rest of the vehicle, this sound good to you?"

should Gibly's force follow this plan? if so of squads "Sneak" "Storm" and "Hold" which teams should be assigned to which tasks?

team team heads for control, loudly. freeing up tam sneak to head for engineering and team hold to clear ship. make sure avenues of retreat are maintained. if they decided to self destruct early you want to be able to get back to this ship FAST.

Jack Halsner 2012/07/02(Mon)18:03 No. 428355 ID: f72f26
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Following Team Storm

Johnson down, killed


Astranian Captain: "Solar filth, you cannot win here! even if you take this station the Commander will destroy you all!"

Mantis whispers into his radio

Mantis: "General, how crucial is it we keep this walker operational? I can take down these marines but the collateral from the grenades will likely destroy much of the control deck."

Halsner: "is there no alternative?"

Mantis: "I could get creative, but that might put the lives of your men in further danger."

What call does Halsner make?

capturing was the big goal but if breaking it is the only thing there is then so be it.

>>428355
get creative, we need that walker to bolster our forces. and our troops are tough and made of steel, not the pansy flowers these Stranner's are made of.

>>428355

Start blindfiring in their general direction.

Jack Halsner 2012/07/05(Thu)23:26 No. 429457 ID: f72f26
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Mantis tumbles and dodges towards the Astranian front serving as a distraction

he is critically injured by near misses

Kemler(6) and Gusten(1) ambush from behind
Kemler softens them up with some flame-thrower fire

Astranian Captain: "eeeargh!"
Astranian leader is incinerated by fire
Gusten over taxes the enemies shields with his Gatling gun

Astranian marine is killed

Mantis assaults the remaining enemy suffering further inury.

frosk distract that last marine with some fire so mantis can disengage. kem, gus finish him off.

Jack Halsner 2012/07/08(Sun)20:31 No. 430415 ID: f72f26
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Frosk fires upon and distracts the remaining Astranian so that Mantis can withdraw

heavy fire takes down the last marine

Mantis: "General, Control deck secure!"


* * *

Switching to team hold

Rickens: "Sir we've cleared the lower levels though some of the Furre escaped into the desert."

Halsner: "hmmm, is that all?"

Rickens: "No Sir, three furre surrendered we're not sure how to proceed."

the guilder interrupts

Darglok: "General this presents a unique oppertunity, hand the Stranners over to me and I can use them to craft weapons that will put even the mighty Raytech to shame. the whole stranner "alliance" will quake with fear!"

Rickens: "sir, these Astranians are already "quaking with fear" at anything this guilder has to say . . . I'm not sure I like the sound of this plan."

can't just hand them over. need to pump them for information first. and maybe something in this place will refuse to work without a stranner working the controls. so you MAY get them but for now we'll keep them locked up in our custody until we have no further use of them.

Strip them of their battle gear and interrogate them. They're sheep, they should crack fairly easily.

>>430754
>Strip them of their battle gear
Wool included.

And pet them.

Sgt. Rickens 2012/07/10(Tue)12:39 No. 430966 ID: f72f26
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Halsner: "I'm sorry but I can't just hand them over. We need to pump them for information they may also prove useful when opperating Astranian tech. So Mr. Darglok you MAY get them eventually but for now we'll keep them locked up in our custody until we have no further use of them."

Darglok: "fair enough general, but remember Stranners do not survive well in captivity, for the best results I'll need them fresher."

Halsner: "Rickens you take it from here, my attention is needed elsewhere."

The general hangs up, leaving Rickens in control.

Pisco: "Hey sarge, maybe we should strip them of their battle gear? just to be safe."

Schnider: "Zer not verring any only zese fancy suits"

Pisco: "they're military uniforms, who know what sort of weapons they're hiding within the threads."

Schnider: "I heard zat if you strip an Astranian you'll invoke ze wrath of Ze Obilisks."

Pisco: "don't tell me you believe that nonsense, why would they even care?"

Rickens: "enough chatter men we've got orders to uphold."

Schnider: "And vat exactly izzat? ve can't be pointing our guns at zese Furre forever, and none of us brought any handcuffs"

Winter reaches to the nearest Astranian to pet it.

Astranian: "don't touch me you filthy creature!"

Pisco: "Careful Doc, they bite."

How does Rickens choose to deal with the Prisoners?

hmm.. ask them where the nearest clothes are. turn the clothes into makeshift ropes and tie them up. full fore-arm wrap.

rope, or belts- tie them up. If you don't have any take the belts off the stranners.

>>430966
Give the Guilder the corpses.
There are quarters on this craft, so confine them to that. A primed incendiary just outside the door will discourage them from trying to leave, and as long as you don't push them too hard they shouldn't get desperate.
They'll expect rescue, so they should try to tough this out until help arrives. Don't disabuse them of that notion and they'll be more passive.
Search the craft for stranner food and drink, and keep those secure. We need it to feed the captives so they won't die.

Contemplate tossing Enrad in there. He clearly has some stranner sympathies, but he's not a traitor. The stranner prosthetics should help them think he's on their side, and if they bond it'll be a lot easier to get information out of them.

>>430971
enrad is WAY WAY WAY back at the base.

Be courteous of the Astranians' modesty. That is one of their most precious values. Impress them with your professionalism. Seriously these aliens might look like fluffy sheep, but inside they're a race of politicians, the lot of them. You need to show strength and control, and not compassion or setimentality, to best reach them. Remember the only effective interrogation technique is to make friends with the prisoners. That is how you make friends with born Astranians.

Sgt. Rickens 2012/07/13(Fri)16:49 No. 432068 ID: f72f26
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Darglok: "I'm needed in engineering Sergeant, good luck with the prisoners."

Winters: "Hey sarge, we could use torn cloth or some belts to tie them up"

Rickens: "properly restraining an Astranian is difficult, tigh the ropes to loose and their small hands will slip free, too tight and you'll cut of circulation or snap their bones. . . Let's lock them in a room for now."

how many soldiers should guard the door? and how many should continue searching the vehicle?

who has the best reaction speed? they should be the guard. need to be able to tell shoot or not faster then an enemy can. the rest keep going.

Jack Halsner 2012/07/14(Sat)00:33 No. 432284 ID: f72f26
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General Halsner radios Gibly

Gibly: "we've got a serious problem here, this fortress is powered by a RayTech reactor"

Halsner: "on a vehicle this size? seems we aren't the only side upping our arsenal."

Gibly: "if this thing blows, it might go off like an atomic blast or probably worse. on top of that the tools that pirate gave us are having no effect this whole mission may have to be compromised."

Halsner: "I'll Contact the Guilder myself."

General Halsner radios Darglok and briefs him on the development

Darglok: "a disaster? hardly, if anything this only proves a greater fortune; an unlimited supply of Astranner energy, can you imagine the power we will posses general?

Halsner: "so you can still put this thing in our control?"

Darglok: "Indeed, it will be more difficult but a weapon operating under it's on power could be far more valuable than previously planned . . . of course there are some additional sacrifices that will need to be made."

Halsner: "what sort of sacrifices?"

Darglok: "one of your number will have to be forever merged with this machine, to pilot it, to control it, to ensure that the reactor itself remains loyal to it's new masters. Is this not a fair price to pay?"

take a volunteer only. someone that thinks their life would best be served this way.

ask if the new man machine hybrid will be sentient to retain it's identity. if so, go for it general.

Jack Halsner 2012/07/14(Sat)21:42 No. 432695 ID: f72f26
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Darglok: "for good or for ill, the controller will retain all prior awareness and personality."

[b] the call for volunteers is sent, but no soldier steps forward."

Darglok: "General your men respect you and your leadership, they may not be eager to take on this burden but any one of them would submit if you but gave them the order."

a volunteer would have been nice . . . it seems I won't be that fortunate.

Do it to yourself, become humanity's war machine that will drive out the astranian scum.

Send in Gibly!

schnider, he seems like a tough guy.

>>432695
Pick somebody who doesn't have family. Have the Guilder keep as much of their body intact as possible.
Also, indemnify them from any 'no fraternization' rules - if they're going to make this kind of sacrifice I'm damn well going to make sure it's the least unpleasant it can be.

Man we cant force any one into that sort of deal. No way in hell they'll never resent that, and we do not want any aggression at all in a killer war machine. Only option is to find another way of conrolling it, even if temporary, or find actual volunteers/be one yourself. If you cant get it back to command, you might have to prepare a transport for the volunteer.

Jack Halsner 2012/07/20(Fri)15:15 No. 434941 ID: f72f26
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Halsner: "Darglok is there no other way?"

The guilder snarls in disgust.

Darglok: "I have offered to do that which your smiths have failed to do despite a lifetime of research and now you have the gall to ask for a moral alternative?!

I was not aware that you were an Astranian General, you seemed too tall."

Halsner: "now listen here toady! you never mentio-"

Darglok: "no General you listen, if we do not capture this vehicle we will all perish. Three Stranian walker squads stand ready to destroy any hostile that leaves this vehicle, escape is impossible.
either you sacrifice one or you sacrifice all, there is the only choice."

Halsner: "Damnit all . . . "

The Guilder is right, we need this vehicle to deal with the remaining Astranian forces.
hmm Schnider would make an ideal candidate, no family, a quick learner and tough as nails under fire . . . a little emotional on morality though.
Enrad speaks up.

Enrad: "Sir! if we use Guilder methods, won't the Astranians despise us forever?"

Halsner: "after the situation on Doraun I'm fairly sure that's a given."

Enrad: "what about the Leechguard? this goes against the war laws."

the Leechguard are ambassadors to the bugs, through them we get our most crucial information for fighting the Astranians.

>>434941
What exactly is the law this would violate? We need to know the precise details if we're to work out a solution.

Could we, for example, secretly tell the guilder do it, then claim he acted against our wishes and have him executed?

if he DID do it, Schnider would be good, but of course, you didn't officially tell him to. but since it's already done no reason not to use it. leechguard can ask what happened and just say it was a communication error.

oh wait nevermind you can't volunteer yourself you're nowhere near them
But still, bugs are douchebags that occasionally hurt both sides and are like Spiderman, fuck them.
and to reiterate my big question, keeping an engine loyal? What the fuck, is it sentient? Are we brainwashing the damn thing with the mutilated body of one of our soldiers? And forever? Seriously can't just wire it up with a volunteer guilder after this battle?

I don't think any matter of respect is going to get your men following orders unless your men absolutely think this is the only way. This will take a professional in-depth conversation with the men. I mean, sure you can order scnhider, but there's still a good chance of insubordination here. He has no family, yes, but that's another reason to live. He has no family and wont ever experience that joy after this. I actually suggest the soldier who's lived a fuller life.

"Soldier [insert volunteer's name], I'm not ordering this lightly on any account. You heard what the guilder said, this is our best and likely only chance in saving the mission, your squad mates, and the entire human settlement here. I give you my most earnest promise that we will work on retrieving you when this is over, we WILL NOT abandon you. But right now I NEED you do do this."

Jack Halsner 2012/07/20(Fri)21:52 No. 435032 ID: f72f26
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>What exactly is the law this would violate? We need to know the precise details if we're to work out a solution.

I believe the law was something about crafting via guilder methods, don't recall the exact details.

normally I contact one of the Leechguard Ambassadors in questionable situations and they'll give the OK or not, but what with all the bugs dropping dead likely they have greater concerns at the moment, though I could try contacting them anyways.

>Could we, for example, secretly tell the guilder do it, then claim he acted against our wishes and have him executed?

I can always make up some excuse after the fact, if need be

>and to reiterate my big question, keeping an engine loyal? What the fuck, is it sentient? Are we brainwashing the damn thing with the mutilated body of one of our soldiers? And forever? Seriously can't just wire it up with a volunteer guilder after this battle?

I don't pretend to understand Astranian Tech, Guilder piracy even less so, hell I don't understand half the weapons my own boys make.
I've asked for options the Guilder didn't seem to like that, maybe he's lying, maybe this really is the only way. Regardless until I find someone else who understands how this all works I have no choice but to take the toad at his word.

Schnider contact me via radio

Schnider: "General, I've spoken vith ze Guilder, I did not understand how much danger we are all in. I vould like to change my position . . . I volunteer for ze experiment."

does anyone not have any family to go back to? if we have to sacrifice someone it should be the person who will leave the fewest loved ones behind.

good man. if anyone asks you never gave the guilder the go ahead.

>>435032
"I'm sorry, son. If I knew that tin plated bastard was planning this I wouldn't have authorized the mission. I failed you.
Don't tell the others until it's over; they'll sleep easier if they didn't have a chance to stop you."

"Above and beyond the call of duty, soldier. You'll save many lives, I thank you."

Arrange some sort of challenge-response, preferable based around something that both of you know, but do not have the explicitly mention over the radio. Darglok may be lying about the subject maintaining their own will and volition, or may intend to try and subvert them as part of the sacrifice process.

Jack Halsner 2012/07/22(Sun)12:53 No. 435254 ID: f72f26
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>>435064
I prep schnider just in case the guilder is planning to betray us.
Hell who am I kidding, there's no "if" about it, only a matter of when.

I then give the boy a quick word.
"Above and beyond the call of duty, soldier. You'll save many lives, the militia thanks you for your sacrifice."

* * *

The guilder works quickly.

Schnider seems to feel no pain, I try not to think to much about that.

Before long the work is complete.

Jack Halsner 2012/07/22(Sun)12:57 No. 435256 ID: f72f26
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The machine takes on a new mannner of control.

It takes only the destrcution of a couple assault mechs before the Astranian forces retreat.

Mission Complete!

-Primary objective; disable enemy command walker: Complete!

-Optional objective; take control of enemy command walker: Complete!

-Bonus: captured three prisoners.

Assign 4 promotions (upgrades) amongst remaining operatives.

-optional: designate specific skill advancements

mantis gets one for being a badass.

>>435256
Have your operatives strip the guilder naked, hogtie him, and toss him in with the stranners.

You wouldn't have authorized the mission if you knew this was the guilder's real plan, and he just did something to make this war even more venomous than it already was. Waiting for him to betray you now is like waiting for him to steal the silverware after he set the house on fire.

Actually, no. Forget that. Instead have Enrad transported to the walker and thrown in with the Stranners.
They'll be far more loose lipped around him, and it'll let us put his sympathies to use.
Also, have your techs turn that room into a proper cell.

>>435300
the guilder only used this plan when it was discovered the walker is running on a ray reactor. if it was running on the regular ray capacitors this plan would not of been needed. now. while it may be a guilder method a solar is acting as the heart of this machine. he may have a way to incapacitate it but he would need to use another guilder to take control.

>>435300
Let's not do this. The Guilder definitely pulled his weight, but we do have the issue of whether or not he installed any funny stuff. Bring him in/radio chat with him. Tell him some thing on the line of:

"Alright Guilder, you've got my gratitude. We owe the success of this mission to you. Now let's talk about the command walker, I want to know if there are any possible complications that I should know about. Any particular quirks or instabilities. And I wouldn't put it past you to have installed any "insurance" of your own, in this case I'm sure we can work some terms out. One way or the other, all I care about is keeping the walker in proper use against the furries.

>>435300
i like that idea. See if Enrad CAN.

Jack Halsner 2012/07/23(Mon)20:32 No. 435585 ID: f72f26
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Mantis is awarded for his skill and capability, with out his actions this mission would never have succeeded.

Enrad along with some supplies is sent off to our new military asset to pry information from the prisoners.

CHAPTER 3: end