A bit of a mix. Reworking the systems somewhat (combat will remain mostly the same), but also to a point where I can both give a satisfactory experience/ending.
Also, that's a rather decisive vote in favor of the sentient UAV. Welcome, Ocular.
Adhoc vote count started by Basarin on Apr 8, 2019 at 9:49 PM, finished with 23 posts and 21 votes.
[X] Ocular - Of all the alternate modes for a Kaus to choose, a spy drone was the last thing you were expecting. Ocular is tiny compared to most Kaus, and that's taking Architect into account - he's only slightly taller than you. But the quiet Legionnaire, who normally operates in tandem with Herald, is very, very good at gathering information. You can easily see linking him into the Pegasus' command and control suite with Sasaki to gather more information during a battle.
[X] Drifter - Drifter is, for lack of a better word, crazy. A veteran of many, many battles in Mekaen's past history, he's seen enough that he's apparently snapped at one point, but still remains functional...if nonsensical. Galbinus describes his fighting style as a skirmisher; Cavalier describes the Kaus' fighting style as 'punch them in the face and draw them away while laughing.' Having your own band of crazies to work with on a daily basis, you can see some glimmer of logic in the madness - this is a Legionnaire who can distract and draw away enemy fire from your main combatant.
Nothing like posting your first big update in awhile, only for SV to eat the post right when you posted. >_<
Now to see if I can post it again from memory...
Okay, with that having been sorted out...I have the next few encounters lined up, which we'll go through before I unveil the new turn system. But for now, emphasis will be more on encounters. You've all built up your infrastructure, and you can probably be considered more or less fully funded and sufficient. Time and effort will be your main constricting factors from now on.
"On top of all that, now that I'm online the other Oracle knows something's up, and she won't stop sending probes this way." She sighed, and her avatar mimicked rubbing the bridge of her nose. "It's such a pain. How do you manage it all, Katarina?"
"Oh, that's not a fair comparison, Delphi," Katarina replied with a smile. "Sure, maybe at first, but we were much smaller a few years ago. Now I have Ivanna, Diana, Lana, and Adriana - bless her, really - who all help and handle different work loads. I can help with all of that, but they're the experts in what they do. And you've got a different job than us."
"But it's good to vent about it, even if you're just getting started, Delphi," Katarina said kindly. "If you just want to talk, or if you want advice, just ask any of us. We're always here to help, alright?"
Despite her workload, Delphi smiled. "Thanks, Katarina. How about you, though? How's everything going?"
"Well..."
Ocular isn't exactly what you were expecting. Sure, you were briefed earlier by Cavalier that he's a scout like him, but much more along the lines of a remote drone than anything else. The fact that his alt-form is practically a ring-in for the UAVs of the first half of the century makes absolute sense to you even. No, that's not the part that weirds you out about him.
What weird you out about him is that he's perched on Herald's shoulder and staring at you with his head tilted heavily to one side.
Ocular's 'default' form is...a bird. Or at least it looks like one. It's not exactly like anything you'd recognize from any species on Earth, but more like a highly stylized raptor or bird of prey. Yet the image is partially marred by the fact that his head tilts enough to bring into mind the image of an owl.
"Ocular: non-traditional chassis," Herald notes. "Reasons: not clarified. Effectiveness: sufficient, despite quirk." Ocular takes the moment to stop staring at you to glare at Herald, before smacking his head against him. Herald stoically bears it for a few moments before sighing. "Insistent Chastisement: you know that doesn't work." ...so an argument they share normally. Right.
Clearly, even the Legion has its share of weirdos.
Galbinus, meanwhile, is listening into some communicator nearby. "...understood. Axiom Team, exercise extreme caution. If Rangefinder is nearby, then there is every possibility he is as well. Observe, and do not engage." He pauses, listening to the reply. "Yes, Breakneck, that means you. Do not rush in without support." With that, he cuts off the communicator before glancing down at you. "You have my thanks for Delphi," he says with a weary smile. "She simplifies things greatly."
"Happy to help," you say back. "The more you keep the Free Brothers on the backfoot, the more breathing room for us." That, and if the Free Brothers were too focused on the Legion, then that gave you more time to really reestablish the space program...which you still find weird that it became your bailiwick, but here you are. Life made no damned sense these days.
"Still, with Delphi's assistance, I am seconding Ocular to you," Galbinus says. "It would normally pain me to lose him, but your need is greater, and Delphi is able to multitask to his duties." That this was also his part of the deal was left unsaid - you both understood that implicitly.
"He'll probably see action soon," you comment. Ocular stops glaring at Herald long enough to lean down to stare at you, curious. "We've gotten the lead on Bandit and his goons. We're going to make a move on him soon-"
"-and you want his operations to cease," Galbinus finishes. He cautions you, "Do not underestimate him. I understand that you have faced him before and got the better of him. He may be a rusty coward, but he only takes action if he thinks he holds all of the advantages."
"Or he might be that sparked," Patch comments. Closing up what looks like a Kausen medical aid kit - with so many hoists, drills, shard containers and other things you have no words for - he adds, "Bandit's the type to hold grudges for a long time. He's had it out for some of us since we were separated from the home world."
"Commentary: Bandit holding a grudge from perceived slights? Conclusion: not beyond norm," Herald says dryly. Ocular simply nods enthusiastically next to him.
Information you didn't already know, but if they were emphasizing that this much, then that was another tool in the bag for dealing with him. You already knew that Bandit has a massive ego, but to hear that it was also somewhat touchy...well, that was an option you could go over with Sasaki and Callaghan later. For now..."Ocular, welcome to the team," you say. "Just...don't freak out everyone, will you? We're used to Legionnaires walking around, but don't overdo it."
Ocular simply stares at you. A moment later, your phone buzzes with a message. Staring at it, you see:
Ocular's 'default' form is...a bird. Or at least it looks like one. It's not exactly like anything you'd recognize from any species on Earth, but more like a highly stylized raptor or bird of prey. Yet the image is partially marred by the fact that his head tilts enough to bring into mind the image of an owl.
Aberdeen. Longtime home of the U.S. military's proving grounds for new technologies and testing, it has since opened room to share with the EUGDF. The integration, so far as you know, was pretty painless - aside from new sets of paperwork, life more or less carried on with the exact same type of work it had for over half a century.
You're waved in without much fuss. Not that you expected any trouble as your concealed Shade drives you through. Nor do you expect any trouble inside this particular area - you're only cleared to come in thanks to the Proving Grounds hosting quite a few of BG Peters' other projects. That, and you made damned sure to get clearance long before you came anywhere near the base, much less Maryland.
That, and if anyone does hassle you, you secured Peters' permission to unleash Adriana on them for exactly fifteen seconds.
That said, it was quite nice to get away for a few days. Even nicer that you could remotely talk to your staff onto the dashboard. "So, what updates do we have, Diana?" you ask as you slowly make the drive towards a particular part of the base.
"I'll start with your counterpart, Sir," she responds crisply. Her image is replaced by a quick dossier snapshot, revealing a woman with bob-cut hair that had not quite gone gray yet with stress. "Major Lenora Jenkins. Weapons development overseer. Recently had a string of difficulties, most recently of Project: Maverick's attempts to create infantry-scale powered armor. That is, until General Kapoor arranged for her and her existing contractors from Morgan Solutions to shift focus towards 'Ground Pound.'"
Glancing at the image, you note with amusement that she looks just about as stressed as you. It's a particular stress, that of having to manage conflicting and rather manic personalities. One that you're quite familiar with.
Such as the image of the next individual to appear. "...do you have a professional work image of him?" you ask idly. The man appears to be wearing coveralls, a hardhat, and...welding goggles? Said image is of him leaning dangerously close with a cocky grin next to an impractically large cannon. "WHEN IN DOUBT: USE MORGAN" is emblazoned on a large, cheerful sign behind him.
"...this is his profile image from Morgan Solutions' website, Sir."
"Oh."
"Yes." You both share a long-suffering sigh. "Norton Gustaff Neer. Prefers to be addressed as 'Gus.' Described as 'highly unorthodox and unpredictable, but efficient.'"
"Oh. Good." Anna's analyses were probably going to be spot-on. For once, in this case, you wish it weren't. "And the other?"
The image is replaced by an elderly gentleman. Despite having lost his hair on the crown, large wild patches of hair jut from the sides and frame a rather large mustache. He appears hunched over and with his hands crammed in his laboratory pockets, which barely conceal patchwork jeans beneath. "Doctor Albert Schemming. A mechatronics engineer, head of Bremen-Industriemaschinen. He was recently experimenting with robotic frames when he was recruited by Major Jenkins." Diana makes a face. "Described as 'manic.' That's all I'm getting."
You don't ask about the specifics of Ground Pound, because of course they would be keeping a tight lid on it. Aside from the fact you're working on it, you sure as hell didn't blab about the Jackal until it was actually ready. For that matter, aside from the method of 'punch it in the face and laugh at their punches' scant details about Ground Pound have come out.
You just know that they're expecting you to arrive.
Your attention is going to be taken up primarily by talking with Major Jenkins. From one head of a crazy development team to another, you're quite possibly the one person in the world right now who can appreciate the position she's in. That said, you're also here to scout out what you can, and what the project as a whole will let you see. You have a few minutes before you arrive, so you have a little bit of time to think about how you're going to approach this.
[] Try to establish cordial relations with Major Jenkins. Whether she succeeds or fails, at least it's another Super Robot project under the Union's flag. No need to get antagonistic right out the gate.
[] Focus your attention on learning as much about the project - and the officers backing it - as possible. BG Peters wanted you to gather as much information as possible, after all.
[] Focus your attention on Neer and Schemming. You're competing with this project, and you'd like to see what you're up against, even if you can't see the Super Robot itself.
[X] Try to establish cordial relations with Major Jenkins. Whether she succeeds or fails, at least it's another Super Robot project under the Union's flag. No need to get antagonistic right out the gate.
[X] Try to establish cordial relations with Major Jenkins. Whether she succeeds or fails, at least it's another Super Robot project under the Union's flag. No need to get antagonistic right out the gate.
[X] Try to establish cordial relations with Major Jenkins. Whether she succeeds or fails, at least it's another Super Robot project under the Union's flag. No need to get antagonistic right out the gate.
They're more likely to share info with an sympathetic ally rather than a pushy competitor anyway.
is that meant to be german? It would be Industriemaschinen, then.
[X] Try to establish cordial relations with Major Jenkins. Whether she succeeds or fails, at least it's another Super Robot project under the Union's flag. No need to get antagonistic right out the gate.
[X] Try to establish cordial relations with Major Jenkins. Whether she succeeds or fails, at least it's another Super Robot project under the Union's flag. No need to get antagonistic right out the gate.
Major Lenora Jenkins. Weapons development overseer. Recently had a string of difficulties, most recently of Project: Maverick's attempts to create infantry-scale powered armor. That is, until General Kapoor arranged for her and her existing contractors from Morgan Solutions to shift focus towards 'Ground Pound.'"
[X] Try to establish cordial relations with Major Jenkins. Whether she succeeds or fails, at least it's another Super Robot project under the Union's flag. No need to get antagonistic right out the gate.
[x] Try to establish cordial relations with Major Jenkins. Whether she succeeds or fails, at least it's another Super Robot project under the Union's flag. No need to get antagonistic right out the gate
[X] Try to establish cordial relations with Major Jenkins. Whether she succeeds or fails, at least it's another Super Robot project under the Union's flag. No need to get antagonistic right out the gate.
The image is replaced by an elderly gentleman. Despite having lost his hair on the crown, large wild patches of hair jut from the sides and frame a rather large mustache. He appears hunched over and with his hands crammed in his laboratory pockets, which barely conceal patchwork jeans beneath. "Doctor Albert Schemming.
[X] Try to establish cordial relations with Major Jenkins. Whether she succeeds or fails, at least it's another Super Robot project under the Union's flag. No need to get antagonistic right out the gate.
[X] Focus your attention on learning as much about the project - and the officers backing it - as possible. BG Peters wanted you to gather as much information as possible, after all.
