Forgothrax
Not Going Gently
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Indeed. Check my math, but do you want to switch to Hardened Plates since we have overkill on the Lookout? That would give us a full set of armor on squad 3.
(Riot Quest) X-Com 2
- Thread starter Zedalb
- Start date
Indeed. Check my math, but do you want to switch to Hardened Plates since we have overkill on the Lookout? That would give us a full set of armor on squad 3.
So taking 1 personal action off Lookout Stations would still leave enough points for it to be completed? If so I'll swap my personal action to Hardened Steel Ballistic plates.
- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska
Well looks like we may be getting a overkill mission rating for the 10th turn quest...we also could get artillary and anti air and tank guns, preferably anti air/tank gun (multipurpose AA to AT gun)
We should eventually start getting to the resistanve HQ soon as we're sure we can reliably defend ourselves from advent.
Also more food and better medical care, shits going to get nasty soon.
Hey is it possible to get cybernetics for our guys that lose a limb or eye?
We should eventually start getting to the resistanve HQ soon as we're sure we can reliably defend ourselves from advent.
Also more food and better medical care, shits going to get nasty soon.
Hey is it possible to get cybernetics for our guys that lose a limb or eye?
Forgothrax
Not Going Gently
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Over the next 3 turns, we need to:
Production actions x3 on Cars (to finish the quest) +2 actions/omakes (or 18 over 2 turns to shave a Production action off)
4 actions on .50 Cals to finish the second .50 Cal for the Cars
Construction should probably go on the Level 2 Gym (allows our people to carry 2 pieces of equipment) and the Level 2 Hydroponics to deal with our food situation. I would request that @Zedalb add a mechanic or some way for us to know when we have enough hydroponics to support our population. After that, the Resistance Center, but IMO it should be low on the priority list since it results in increased Advent attention.
Research is hard to say. Probably will switch research voting to Demolitions and suggest that people complete Arc throwers with Personals. Maybe Alien Alloy Expertise first if @Zedalb cares to comment on what it will do.
There are a lot of small Production projects that are low hanging fruit. We're going to have ~130AA after this turn, plus whatever we salvage from the Advent attack, so we can go wild with it. AA armor is cheap (4 actions or 2+2omake) per squad and probably something we should get.
Every Squad needs 3 specialists; Squad 1 has 3, Squad 2 and 3 have Medics. We're finishing a Sniper this turn. Assaults are pretty cheap (go for Improved Assault, we can afford the AA) so getting 2 more of those and then getting 2 more Snipers and 2 more Heavies would be excellent.
Weapon Customization is only 25pp per squad, or 75pp for all 3 (5 actions) and provides a bonus to ranged combat that would be useful.
We have 8 Extra Ammo and unless the GM indicates we need more or would receive a bonus from doing so (@Zedalb !) I don't feel like we should get more.
I'd like MGLs for all squads, but we'll see how it goes.
Production actions x3 on Cars (to finish the quest) +2 actions/omakes (or 18 over 2 turns to shave a Production action off)
4 actions on .50 Cals to finish the second .50 Cal for the Cars
Construction should probably go on the Level 2 Gym (allows our people to carry 2 pieces of equipment) and the Level 2 Hydroponics to deal with our food situation. I would request that @Zedalb add a mechanic or some way for us to know when we have enough hydroponics to support our population. After that, the Resistance Center, but IMO it should be low on the priority list since it results in increased Advent attention.
Research is hard to say. Probably will switch research voting to Demolitions and suggest that people complete Arc throwers with Personals. Maybe Alien Alloy Expertise first if @Zedalb cares to comment on what it will do.
There are a lot of small Production projects that are low hanging fruit. We're going to have ~130AA after this turn, plus whatever we salvage from the Advent attack, so we can go wild with it. AA armor is cheap (4 actions or 2+2omake) per squad and probably something we should get.
Every Squad needs 3 specialists; Squad 1 has 3, Squad 2 and 3 have Medics. We're finishing a Sniper this turn. Assaults are pretty cheap (go for Improved Assault, we can afford the AA) so getting 2 more of those and then getting 2 more Snipers and 2 more Heavies would be excellent.
Weapon Customization is only 25pp per squad, or 75pp for all 3 (5 actions) and provides a bonus to ranged combat that would be useful.
We have 8 Extra Ammo and unless the GM indicates we need more or would receive a bonus from doing so (@Zedalb !) I don't feel like we should get more.
I'd like MGLs for all squads, but we'll see how it goes.
We also need to consider that more research will open up from obtaining elerium.
Along with this it would properly be a good idea to see if we can spare some votes for Adobe wall blocks witch is a third of the way done and seems to be an instant defence upgrade like the bar wire for the trench.
Along with this it would properly be a good idea to see if we can spare some votes for Adobe wall blocks witch is a third of the way done and seems to be an instant defence upgrade like the bar wire for the trench.
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Forgothrax
Not Going Gently
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Given that the entry is talking purely about the bricks, I'm not sure that action includes assembly into a wall. If it does then sure, its worthwhile.
Production Actions:
Construction Actions:
- Various Unit Upgrades: Armored Cars, armor in itself, fancy weapons, specialist kits, various equipment, we have a lot to keep ourselves busy.
- Production Tool Upgrades: Probably won't make a difference in time for turn 10, but I'd like to get started on these and bring them up to 25/personal action over time. While short term, construction actions helped us get our base set up, long term most personal actions are likely to be best served in production.
- Construction Tool Upgrades: I would like to get these up to 20 to make building construction projects a bit easier.
- Research Tools Upgrades: Don't care, hand research is not something I want to encourage at the moment. Maybe later, but I suspect it will be prohibitively expensive at that point. Even Construction actions are barely worth doing by hand. If we have the spare alien alloy, I wouldn't be against spending a group action one turn upgrading the alien alloy one just to keep up, but it's very low priority for me.
- Brick Wall: Want for defenses. Not immediately crucial, but would be nice to have. I suspect that as we pull off of 'everyone focus on this one thing' we will get people finishing this naturally.
Construction Actions:
- Gym Level 2: This won't matter for several turns, as we have to spend time outfitting the base level of our soldiers.
- Resistance Command Center: I want to get the level 2 Trench and the Adobe Bricks before getting this. It would probably be 'safe' to get it beforehand, but I'd prefer not to find ourselves scrambling to get them afterwards.
- Level 2 Trench: Get an upgrade to the Construction center since that reduces the turns from 8ish to a nice and even 6.
- Various Econ Centers: If possible, I'd like to focus on these now that we should have some breathing room. Each one should take two turns to build and provide us good buffs. In order of importance, I think Construction>Research>Production.
- Probably a prison for captives: I forsee this becoming a thing once we get the Arc Thrower.
- Acr Thrower: Should get us more resources by taking people alive. It's nice, and will definitely help.
- Demolitions Manual: Is nice, gets us a good upgrade for our units.
- Location
- Mobile, Alabama
OP confirmed this with me last voting period. Its why I pushed barbed wire because it would deploy when finished.
Edit: Also working on vote an omake.
Forgothrax
Not Going Gently
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The reason I've been focusing on the Formalized Military quest is that we need that stuff for the Advent Base Raid anyway. I'll prioritize it as much as possible.
Thankfully the Formal Military Quest is a "quest for Xcom" and grants us Research points upon completion. That should help. We need laser weapons badly...
Concur, but if the Resistance Center is the primary way to get new squad members we may have to bite the bullet and do it sooner rather than later.
Can you quote that for me? If it is the case that the bricks action leads to a wall I'd be a very happy man.
Thankfully the Formal Military Quest is a "quest for Xcom" and grants us Research points upon completion. That should help. We need laser weapons badly...
Concur, but if the Resistance Center is the primary way to get new squad members we may have to bite the bullet and do it sooner rather than later.
Can you quote that for me? If it is the case that the bricks action leads to a wall I'd be a very happy man.
- Location
- Mobile, Alabama
I PMed him.
I guess I wasn't clear.
Wire went up instantly.
Wall? Make bricks and then the wall.
- Location
- The Air Capital
Also, I would suggest going for more branch than tree options, because of returns. For example, It's a safe bet that getting Alien Alloy expertise will reduce the cost of the other alien alloy researches by 1/2. (which incidentally, probably means going over 50 on either the alloy research choices would cause those extra points to be lost when expertise is completed.)
The following omake is for Arc Throwers, of course.
Omake: Shock to the System -
Ian Wright quickly lifted up the package in his arms to avoid getting bull-rushed by the pair of kids chasing after a smoking advent drone with a baseball bat and tennis racket. He had gone back to Lufkin for a few days only to come back to Open Season on Drones in Willesden. Ian bet that wasn't what Advent had been expecting, but no one ever accused them of common sense. The jackboots may as well handed over the elerium and alloy plating instead of sending in a slow, defenseless target for people to take their suppressed rage against.
Eh, still, not worth worrying about at the moment. Trying to find the right John was. He'd already met a small handful of the men of the town named John, since all he had to go on for directions was 'John the Electrical Guy'. Note to self: Strangle dispatch later. Grumbling tom himself he walked along the streets until he found the converted double garage that was the towns' R&D nexus.
Balancing the box to free up a hand, he knocked on one of the doors and backed up when it opened up to reveal a bespectacled man. "Whaddya need?"
"Well, I'm here to drop off a package for a 'John the Electrical Guy'. Which I'm sure you guys would know who that is rather than me since I'm not a local."
The man nodded, looking at the box. "What's in it?"
"A broken stun lancer shock lance." Ian deadpanned.
"What?!" Than man recoiled in shock.
"Yeah, old scavver Morita had it. Never said where or how he got it, but I figured you guys would have a better use for it than the Lufkin folk. Since they're concentrating on the artillery at the moment." Ian explained.
"uh huh. But it's inoperable?" The man asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
He shrugged in response. "It certainly doesn't light and spark anymore, but i figured y'all could at least take a look at it. Make your own or might be helpful for those Arc Throwers you're working on. Oh! Hey, maybe make your own shock sword with those fancy x-blades you guys have!"
The man grinned a bit at that. "Sure, be happy to take a look. Thanks for all your help."
Ian passed the package to the man. "Hey, happy to. After all, were all in this together."
The following omake is for Arc Throwers, of course.
Omake: Shock to the System -
Ian Wright quickly lifted up the package in his arms to avoid getting bull-rushed by the pair of kids chasing after a smoking advent drone with a baseball bat and tennis racket. He had gone back to Lufkin for a few days only to come back to Open Season on Drones in Willesden. Ian bet that wasn't what Advent had been expecting, but no one ever accused them of common sense. The jackboots may as well handed over the elerium and alloy plating instead of sending in a slow, defenseless target for people to take their suppressed rage against.
Eh, still, not worth worrying about at the moment. Trying to find the right John was. He'd already met a small handful of the men of the town named John, since all he had to go on for directions was 'John the Electrical Guy'. Note to self: Strangle dispatch later. Grumbling tom himself he walked along the streets until he found the converted double garage that was the towns' R&D nexus.
Balancing the box to free up a hand, he knocked on one of the doors and backed up when it opened up to reveal a bespectacled man. "Whaddya need?"
"Well, I'm here to drop off a package for a 'John the Electrical Guy'. Which I'm sure you guys would know who that is rather than me since I'm not a local."
The man nodded, looking at the box. "What's in it?"
"A broken stun lancer shock lance." Ian deadpanned.
"What?!" Than man recoiled in shock.
"Yeah, old scavver Morita had it. Never said where or how he got it, but I figured you guys would have a better use for it than the Lufkin folk. Since they're concentrating on the artillery at the moment." Ian explained.
"uh huh. But it's inoperable?" The man asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
He shrugged in response. "It certainly doesn't light and spark anymore, but i figured y'all could at least take a look at it. Make your own or might be helpful for those Arc Throwers you're working on. Oh! Hey, maybe make your own shock sword with those fancy x-blades you guys have!"
The man grinned a bit at that. "Sure, be happy to take a look. Thanks for all your help."
Ian passed the package to the man. "Hey, happy to. After all, were all in this together."
I mean, one of the quest rewards for finishing the quest is having refugees come to us, so I think that acts as a stop-gap for needing the Resistance Center to recruit. Probably not as good, but 'good enough' while we get more advanced defenses set up.
What I'm really wanting is upgrading our Production Vote strength to 25. If we just get it up to 20, then.
Each of these can be done with a single vote, and doubled with an omake vote.
And this can be done twice over with a vote, and four times over with an omake vote.
If we then take that a step further and increase our Production Vote power up to 25, then.
Each of these can be done with an omake vote.
Meanwhile 30 doesn't provide nearly the same level of power increase. But yeah, Production is where the personal votes will make the biggest difference in the long run because it requires a diverse set of actions as opposed to a few really expensive actions like construction or research. As such, the center upgrade isn't as useful as it would be for construction and research, but the tool vote upgrades are much more powerful. Since we seem to be past most of the construction actions of 'get this now', I think we're going to see a lot of people switching over to production votes, and I'd like 2-4 of us working to get us up to 25/vote while everyone else takes care of more pressing matters.
In order to save alloys for unit upgrades, I'll probably suggest that we focus on the normal production tools first. It's only a 2 vote difference, so it shouldn't make much difference.
- Location
- Mobile, Alabama
[X] [Construction] Lookout Stations
[X] [Production] Kevlar Uniforms
[X] [Research] Reverse Engineering Arc Thrower
[X] [Personal] Hunt Advent Drones
Omake:
Before his current line of work John had been a school teacher. One thing he had always found interesting was the different ways man had hunted game. Yes, just stabbing it worked but there were equally interesting ways to bring home the bacon.
So, when the drones first showed up and everyone started shooting them it made sense. See target and shoot target. But there was more then one way to skin a cat. Which is why he was on this ladder pulling wire through the pole he had just set.
See you could hunt or you could trap. So, he used the map he had made to dig the trench and put his mind to a solution. He had initially thought to use barrage balloons but they'd just be massive upkeep. Then he'd noticed how low the drones flew, so if a balloon wouldn't work?
Which lead to him scrounging up as much wire as he could wire and spending more time on a ladder then he had planned on this month.
First, he had strung wire between trees in what looked like possible vectors of attack. Then he'd gone between what buildings he could and done the same. When he exhausted natural options? He started prep work by drilling holes for wire to loop through the pipes he had found. With that done, he had gone out beyond the wire and started digging holes to place the pipes now posts in. The material, height and density of poles varied by what he had for material and what made sense for terrain.
With those set he started pulling wire. He set the height of the wire at random and crisscrossed them like a spider web. When he was done it looked like some modern art monstrosity. However, the goal was simple, turn the vectors the enemy was using to send in drones into a tangle of obstacles.
Then he watched. He didn't bag one immediately but he did see them get into some near misses. His action had the reaction he wanted. The drones had to slow down, they abandoned entire vectors as being too much of a mess, they could no longer could zip in and out of town. Finally, one came in too fast and he had his prize.
As he hauled it back he realized he have to check his traps in the future to see if he caught another drone as clumsy as this one.
Edit: Something random.
[X] [Production] Kevlar Uniforms
[X] [Research] Reverse Engineering Arc Thrower
[X] [Personal] Hunt Advent Drones
Omake:
Before his current line of work John had been a school teacher. One thing he had always found interesting was the different ways man had hunted game. Yes, just stabbing it worked but there were equally interesting ways to bring home the bacon.
So, when the drones first showed up and everyone started shooting them it made sense. See target and shoot target. But there was more then one way to skin a cat. Which is why he was on this ladder pulling wire through the pole he had just set.
See you could hunt or you could trap. So, he used the map he had made to dig the trench and put his mind to a solution. He had initially thought to use barrage balloons but they'd just be massive upkeep. Then he'd noticed how low the drones flew, so if a balloon wouldn't work?
Which lead to him scrounging up as much wire as he could wire and spending more time on a ladder then he had planned on this month.
First, he had strung wire between trees in what looked like possible vectors of attack. Then he'd gone between what buildings he could and done the same. When he exhausted natural options? He started prep work by drilling holes for wire to loop through the pipes he had found. With that done, he had gone out beyond the wire and started digging holes to place the pipes now posts in. The material, height and density of poles varied by what he had for material and what made sense for terrain.
With those set he started pulling wire. He set the height of the wire at random and crisscrossed them like a spider web. When he was done it looked like some modern art monstrosity. However, the goal was simple, turn the vectors the enemy was using to send in drones into a tangle of obstacles.
Then he watched. He didn't bag one immediately but he did see them get into some near misses. His action had the reaction he wanted. The drones had to slow down, they abandoned entire vectors as being too much of a mess, they could no longer could zip in and out of town. Finally, one came in too fast and he had his prize.
As he hauled it back he realized he have to check his traps in the future to see if he caught another drone as clumsy as this one.
Edit: Something random.
- Location
- Somewhere else
I updated the character list. Let me know if I forgot anything or if I need to add any more info to the characters listed.
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Crafter of War
The Dorf
- Location
- Bend
[X] [Personal] Car Modification
Omake
I swear people are just screwing with me. As soon as I got back from running a errant, they just finished up the job I had just been working on. For fuck sake, can't I keep a job for even one moment?!
...
As he peers out the field, the carnage of his townsmen can be seen, with their disturbing glee as they go around hunting the drones. Usually, this shouldn't make anyone queasy, yet with the way they go about dismantling them is very... disturbing.
...NOPE, ain't gonna get caught up in whatever got them in that mood.
...
I wonder if they need any more tools help with the town efforts?
*Stare*
Oh fuck off! I thought you were part of the eggheads! The hell are you doing around here!
...
Hey! I told you! I promise I won't blow us sky high!
"A promise means jack shit if you can't keep them!"
I'm not trying to break them in the first place! I'm a honest man, just ask anyone else in this town!
"I know for a fact that you're a honest man!"
Than what gives!?
"If you're even near anything volatile, than chances of it blowing up exponentially increase!"
I just said that I was going to be working with the scraps of metal! I know for a fact that I'll make a mess, so why?
"You might make them explode as well"
Well how the fuck would I even manage to achieve that in the first place smartass, care to enlighten me?
"No need, you'll find a way"
Oh? So is that an invitation?
"No, it means to get out"
...
"Why did you show your mug around here?"
Oh come on! You can't still be this salty after the truck incident. Right?
"Of course the one who breaks it forgets"
...Still salty it is then. So can I-
"You are going nowhere near the cars, and nothing you do can convince me otherwi-"
I'll do anything.
"...Anything you say?"
Yup, probably going to regret this, but I need to do something.
"Well, how about this, every time something breaks down, I get to smack you with my wrench?"
...Er, on second thought, how about we instead-
"Oh, breaking a promise Joe? I thought you were a honest man?"
...Are you really going to play that card?
"Yup. Glad I could count of you pal"
Ah, fuck me.
Omake
I swear people are just screwing with me. As soon as I got back from running a errant, they just finished up the job I had just been working on. For fuck sake, can't I keep a job for even one moment?!
...
As he peers out the field, the carnage of his townsmen can be seen, with their disturbing glee as they go around hunting the drones. Usually, this shouldn't make anyone queasy, yet with the way they go about dismantling them is very... disturbing.
...NOPE, ain't gonna get caught up in whatever got them in that mood.
...
I wonder if they need any more tools help with the town efforts?
*Stare*
Oh fuck off! I thought you were part of the eggheads! The hell are you doing around here!
...
Hey! I told you! I promise I won't blow us sky high!
"A promise means jack shit if you can't keep them!"
I'm not trying to break them in the first place! I'm a honest man, just ask anyone else in this town!
"I know for a fact that you're a honest man!"
Than what gives!?
"If you're even near anything volatile, than chances of it blowing up exponentially increase!"
I just said that I was going to be working with the scraps of metal! I know for a fact that I'll make a mess, so why?
"You might make them explode as well"
Well how the fuck would I even manage to achieve that in the first place smartass, care to enlighten me?
"No need, you'll find a way"
Oh? So is that an invitation?
"No, it means to get out"
...
"Why did you show your mug around here?"
Oh come on! You can't still be this salty after the truck incident. Right?
"Of course the one who breaks it forgets"
...Still salty it is then. So can I-
"You are going nowhere near the cars, and nothing you do can convince me otherwi-"
I'll do anything.
"...Anything you say?"
Yup, probably going to regret this, but I need to do something.
"Well, how about this, every time something breaks down, I get to smack you with my wrench?"
...Er, on second thought, how about we instead-
"Oh, breaking a promise Joe? I thought you were a honest man?"
...Are you really going to play that card?
"Yup. Glad I could count of you pal"
Ah, fuck me.
ConfusedPotato
Unverified Verifier
- Location
- Australia
[X] [Construction] Lookout Stations
[X] [Production] Car Modification
[X] [Research] Reverse Engineering Arc Thrower
[X] [Personal] Hunt Advent Drones
Fredrick Wong shifted slightly as he looked down the scope on his sniper rifle. It seemed that ADVENT had sent out a bunch of drones to scout them out. While it was annoying that they did it while he was training the actual lookouts for the lookout stations they did serve a useful purpose. Namely as a practical exercise training them is how to watch for ADVENT incursions. He figured if the lookouts were able to spot the drones then they would be able to spot an actual attack with some degree of certainty, after all the attacks would probably have ADVENT forces moving in groups rather than as singular units like these drones were currently behaving. The fact that ADVENT attack forces tended to feature actual soldiers that had a larger body profile than the small cross section of the drones would also help.
Which was why he was lying out here on the top of this hill in his Ghillie suit pretending to be a bunch of shrubs. It had not taken him long to figure out which direction the drones were coming from, especially since they were all coming from the direction of the new base. As a result he had dragged his entire class of trainee lookouts into the surrounding area about 2 and a half kilometres out of town, split them into groups of 3 and given them a bunch of radios and supplies before spreading them out over the landscape. They were now working together to provide the locations of drones for him to shoot. In the beginning they had all been trying to give him information at the same time but after yelling at them through the radio he was able to get them to actually coordinate with each other. Tracking the latest drone they had found he pulled the trigger.
*BLAM*
For about a minute nothing happened. Before abruptly, 1.3 kilometres from his position, the drone jerked violently before plummeting to the ground at a rapid pace. The radio exploded into voices as the lookouts gave directions to the downed drone to the people he had roped into acting as the collection team. While the drone's small chassis did make them a small target it also forced them to concentrate all the vital systems into one area. This meant that along with the drone's slow and constant movement he could achieve one kill per shot taken. After all, a computer does not tend to function well after all the important components are perforated. At this range the drone wouldn't receive any warning before it was hit, even if its camera was pointed directly at him. The bullet was supersonic so the sound wouldn't help, and the muzzle flash was not visible from this distance especially with the flash hider he had attached to the front of his gun.
But even with all the concealment he would eventually have to move, a sniper that stayed in one position taking shots for too long was a dead sniper. After a while a sniper's location could be figured out from the direction his shots were coming from, he had to done so several times over the last few days when ADVENT sent a drone looking for him. While they never actually found him as he would shoot the drone out of the sky before it reached him, it did mean that they were getting close to his position and so he would move and setup on a different hill. While the system worked there had nearly been an incident of friendly fire when the drone Twinkle had flown close to his positon while attacking other drones. This had lead to a lecture over the radio on the importance of keeping track of the location of allies as well as looking for enemies.
The fact that the drones were flying enemies was actually making tracking them slightly easier. Their black frame and red lights made them stand out against the blue sky during the day. With a pair of binoculars one could identify them by the fact that they were a black dot on a blue background. While the fact that the drones kept arriving at all hours of the day including during the middle of the night, this did serve another useful purpose. Namely getting the lookouts used to shift work and spotting targets in the dark. The fact that the drones had a black chassis did help them blend into the night sky over the town due to the bright lights making the sky look black, it did not help at all out in the middle of nowhere. Out here the sky at night was a more dark blue colour than a plain black so they still stood out like a sore thumb. The red lights actually made their hiding worse as the lights would seem brighter in comparison.
Fredrick smiled as he recalled the complaints that had happened in the first few nights. They had been particularly creative for a bunch of civilians, though he had herd worse in the army. Still smiling he pointed his gun at the next drone the lookouts had identified for him, pausing to aim a little ahead and above its current location. With that he breathed out and everything on the hill seemed to become still as if waiting in anticipation for something. A moment later the trigger was pulled and a gunshot rang out over the landscape.
*BLAM*
Fifty seconds later, another drone fell out of the sky.
AN: This omake can be used for either the Hunt Advent Drones action or the Lookout Stations action. I wrote this with the intention that if we were able to complete lookout stations this turn with an additional 2 actions I could switch to it without rewriting this omake.
[X] [Production] Car Modification
[X] [Research] Reverse Engineering Arc Thrower
[X] [Personal] Hunt Advent Drones
Fredrick Wong shifted slightly as he looked down the scope on his sniper rifle. It seemed that ADVENT had sent out a bunch of drones to scout them out. While it was annoying that they did it while he was training the actual lookouts for the lookout stations they did serve a useful purpose. Namely as a practical exercise training them is how to watch for ADVENT incursions. He figured if the lookouts were able to spot the drones then they would be able to spot an actual attack with some degree of certainty, after all the attacks would probably have ADVENT forces moving in groups rather than as singular units like these drones were currently behaving. The fact that ADVENT attack forces tended to feature actual soldiers that had a larger body profile than the small cross section of the drones would also help.
Which was why he was lying out here on the top of this hill in his Ghillie suit pretending to be a bunch of shrubs. It had not taken him long to figure out which direction the drones were coming from, especially since they were all coming from the direction of the new base. As a result he had dragged his entire class of trainee lookouts into the surrounding area about 2 and a half kilometres out of town, split them into groups of 3 and given them a bunch of radios and supplies before spreading them out over the landscape. They were now working together to provide the locations of drones for him to shoot. In the beginning they had all been trying to give him information at the same time but after yelling at them through the radio he was able to get them to actually coordinate with each other. Tracking the latest drone they had found he pulled the trigger.
*BLAM*
For about a minute nothing happened. Before abruptly, 1.3 kilometres from his position, the drone jerked violently before plummeting to the ground at a rapid pace. The radio exploded into voices as the lookouts gave directions to the downed drone to the people he had roped into acting as the collection team. While the drone's small chassis did make them a small target it also forced them to concentrate all the vital systems into one area. This meant that along with the drone's slow and constant movement he could achieve one kill per shot taken. After all, a computer does not tend to function well after all the important components are perforated. At this range the drone wouldn't receive any warning before it was hit, even if its camera was pointed directly at him. The bullet was supersonic so the sound wouldn't help, and the muzzle flash was not visible from this distance especially with the flash hider he had attached to the front of his gun.
But even with all the concealment he would eventually have to move, a sniper that stayed in one position taking shots for too long was a dead sniper. After a while a sniper's location could be figured out from the direction his shots were coming from, he had to done so several times over the last few days when ADVENT sent a drone looking for him. While they never actually found him as he would shoot the drone out of the sky before it reached him, it did mean that they were getting close to his position and so he would move and setup on a different hill. While the system worked there had nearly been an incident of friendly fire when the drone Twinkle had flown close to his positon while attacking other drones. This had lead to a lecture over the radio on the importance of keeping track of the location of allies as well as looking for enemies.
The fact that the drones were flying enemies was actually making tracking them slightly easier. Their black frame and red lights made them stand out against the blue sky during the day. With a pair of binoculars one could identify them by the fact that they were a black dot on a blue background. While the fact that the drones kept arriving at all hours of the day including during the middle of the night, this did serve another useful purpose. Namely getting the lookouts used to shift work and spotting targets in the dark. The fact that the drones had a black chassis did help them blend into the night sky over the town due to the bright lights making the sky look black, it did not help at all out in the middle of nowhere. Out here the sky at night was a more dark blue colour than a plain black so they still stood out like a sore thumb. The red lights actually made their hiding worse as the lights would seem brighter in comparison.
Fredrick smiled as he recalled the complaints that had happened in the first few nights. They had been particularly creative for a bunch of civilians, though he had herd worse in the army. Still smiling he pointed his gun at the next drone the lookouts had identified for him, pausing to aim a little ahead and above its current location. With that he breathed out and everything on the hill seemed to become still as if waiting in anticipation for something. A moment later the trigger was pulled and a gunshot rang out over the landscape.
*BLAM*
Fifty seconds later, another drone fell out of the sky.
AN: This omake can be used for either the Hunt Advent Drones action or the Lookout Stations action. I wrote this with the intention that if we were able to complete lookout stations this turn with an additional 2 actions I could switch to it without rewriting this omake.
[X] Construction: Lookout stations
[X] Production: Car Modification
[X] Research: Alien Alloy Guns and Ammo
[X] Personal: Hunt Advent Drones
"You ever have one of those moments where it feels like the universe is messing with you?"
After dropping the ADVENT drone down amid the quickly-growing pile of wrecked alien scout robots, Laura looked to Jack.
"I think so." She said. "Why?"
Jack pointed to where the primary research teams were hard at work trying to figure out the Arc Thrower.
"I work near single-handedly on that thing for two weeks, pretty much nobody does squat to help other than you." Jack explained to her. "But then I turn my back to work on other projects - first putting together proper research tools so it doesn't take forever, now hunting down those stupid drones - and what happens? Suddenly everyone is trying to figure them out and finish the project behind my back!"
Laura glanced to where Jack pointed, and sighed with a small smile on her face.
"If it makes you feel better, you could say you laid the groundwork for their success." Laura said as she turned to look back in Jack's direction. "You can say you did the hard part for them."
"I guess." Jack said, though the tone made it clear the idea didn't really satisfy him.
"The important thing is that it's done, isn't it?" Laura said, trying a different tactic.
Jack looked to Laura, then back to he research area, then back to Laura. He let out a sigh of his own.
"Yeah, yeah." He said reluctantly. "Good for the town, good for humanity, I get it."
"That's the right attitude." Laura said as the two made their way back out for more drone hunting.
"Doesn't make me feel any better about it, though." Jack said, prompting Laura to give him a lighthearted shove.
[X] Production: Car Modification
[X] Research: Alien Alloy Guns and Ammo
[X] Personal: Hunt Advent Drones
"You ever have one of those moments where it feels like the universe is messing with you?"
After dropping the ADVENT drone down amid the quickly-growing pile of wrecked alien scout robots, Laura looked to Jack.
"I think so." She said. "Why?"
Jack pointed to where the primary research teams were hard at work trying to figure out the Arc Thrower.
"I work near single-handedly on that thing for two weeks, pretty much nobody does squat to help other than you." Jack explained to her. "But then I turn my back to work on other projects - first putting together proper research tools so it doesn't take forever, now hunting down those stupid drones - and what happens? Suddenly everyone is trying to figure them out and finish the project behind my back!"
Laura glanced to where Jack pointed, and sighed with a small smile on her face.
"If it makes you feel better, you could say you laid the groundwork for their success." Laura said as she turned to look back in Jack's direction. "You can say you did the hard part for them."
"I guess." Jack said, though the tone made it clear the idea didn't really satisfy him.
"The important thing is that it's done, isn't it?" Laura said, trying a different tactic.
Jack looked to Laura, then back to he research area, then back to Laura. He let out a sigh of his own.
"Yeah, yeah." He said reluctantly. "Good for the town, good for humanity, I get it."
"That's the right attitude." Laura said as the two made their way back out for more drone hunting.
"Doesn't make me feel any better about it, though." Jack said, prompting Laura to give him a lighthearted shove.
- Location
- The United States
- Pronouns
- He/They
Aww man, just realized I forgot to vote on this. Placeholder, will switch to hunt drones if I have time to Omake tommorow.
[X] [Personal] Car Modification
[X] [Personal] Car Modification
- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska
*Twinkie 01 almost getting shot begins to swear in 0's and 1's near violently at human meatbag masters incompetence*
*Twinkie 02 crackles as it takes down another advent drone*
this is a amusing quest so far, glad to see all the stories are beginning to congregate together!
*Twinkie 02 crackles as it takes down another advent drone*
this is a amusing quest so far, glad to see all the stories are beginning to congregate together!
- Location
- Mobile, Alabama
We really need a banner. Wish I could make one.
Forgothrax
Not Going Gently
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Vote can probably be safely closed at this point...
Okay, so the favourites won in the main categories - no surprise there. That takes Lookout Stations to 765/1000, Kevlar Uniforms to 150 (3 squads worth) and Reverse Engineering Arc Thrower to 445/500. Now we have to factor in the Personal actions.
We've got 15 actions for Lookout Stations, at 25 CP each that makes 375 CP. Even without the omakes that's enough to complete the Lookout Stations.
8 people are hunting ADVENT drones - how many of them had omakes?
1 person spent a Personal action on Sniper Kit taking it to 45/50, and an omale takes it to 60/50 - completes a Sniper for Squad 1, and starts the next at 10/50.
2 Personal actions on Car Modification, getting work on the first car started and brought up to 30/250, unless either of them have omakes
There's a Personal action for Flamester to continue work on the second .50 caliber machine gun, which for some reason didn't show up in the tally. That cranks it up to 65/100.
EDIT: Bluefur advised that the Sniper Kit action was supported by an omake, so amending text)
We've got 15 actions for Lookout Stations, at 25 CP each that makes 375 CP. Even without the omakes that's enough to complete the Lookout Stations.
8 people are hunting ADVENT drones - how many of them had omakes?
1 person spent a Personal action on Sniper Kit taking it to 45/50, and an omale takes it to 60/50 - completes a Sniper for Squad 1, and starts the next at 10/50.
2 Personal actions on Car Modification, getting work on the first car started and brought up to 30/250, unless either of them have omakes
There's a Personal action for Flamester to continue work on the second .50 caliber machine gun, which for some reason didn't show up in the tally. That cranks it up to 65/100.
EDIT: Bluefur advised that the Sniper Kit action was supported by an omake, so amending text)
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