Winning Vote:
[X] All attack
March UE 0083
Just past orbit of the moon
You and Nina have changed into your pilot suits and are on your way down to the hangar. Nina is touching her chest and rear, presumably to make sure her suit won't chafe. The two of you arrive in the hangar to find it abuzz with activity, the Aestivalis pilots are loading up into their machines, Big Shooter is ready for launch, and the Build Angels' jets are idling in the launch bay. Uribitake notices you and Nina and walks up to you.
"What're you doing down here? Your ReZel is still wrecked." Uribitake says
"I've got a new ride, the Blühende Rose." You jerk your thumb toward the Super Robot, which was moved into a storage rack off to the side. Uribitake considers things for a few seconds before throwing his hands up.
"Alright, fine, I'll have the guys unlock it. But if something in there causes you to start attacking us, it's on you, got it?" He points at you. You nod.
"Okay, once you get in your robot, move to the back of the line. The captain's going to open up with a Gravity Blast before launching everyone. Since you're piloting a Super Robot, I guess you can help take on the new battleships the enemy's got." Uribitake explains the plan Yurika came up with.
"Understood, we'll start preparing immediately." You say.
You and Nina get situated in the cockpit of the Blühende Rose. After you boot up the system, your mind is suddenly flooded with information about how to pilot the Super Robot. You shake your head to clear your thoughts and turn back to check on Nina. She gives a thumbs up before going back to checking the Diffusion Crystal Drive.
"Diffusion Crystal Drive looks good, output is stable. We're ready to go whenever you are." Nina says.
"Got it, we'll launch as soon as we're able then." You turn back to your controls.
Enemy Forces
Grasshopper Squad x20
Katanbo x2
Opening Salvo
Yurika uses a MAP attack-Gravity Blast
Auto hit (AI enemy is predictable)
Roll for enemy concentration-1d6
4
Result: 11 Grasshopper squads are destroyed
"Gravity Blast, fire!" Yurika says over the squad comms.
You, and you assume everyone else about to sortie, are being fed sensor data from the bridge. You watch as numerous blips representing the Grasshoppers disappear. Before, there were around 20 squads of the automated machines charging the ship. Now, it looks like there are around 9 squads worth of them left, in addition to a pair of the new battleships, which were out of range of the Gravity Blast.
"All units, proceed with your assigned duties. Yamada and Tenkawa, guard the ship. Subaru, Amano, and Maki, mop up the straggler Grasshoppers. Jeeg team and Blühende Rose, attack the enemy battleships. Build Angels, assist the other units as you see fit. Proceed with launch now." Ruri says over the squad freq.
Gai and Akito are the first ones to launch, who immediately take defensive positions around the ship. Ryoko, Hikaru, and Izumi are out next, and they immediately start chasing stray Grasshoppers as a group. Big Shooter is out next. As soon as it's clear of the ship, a ramp opens up on the bottom, and a motorcycle shoots out of it. You hear a yell of "Build Up!" from Kenji over the squad freq, followed by Tsubaki yelling "Jeeg parts, shoot!". The motorcycle turns into the head of Steel Jeeg, and the torso and limbs of Jeeg rocket out of Big Shooter, propelled by exotic electromagnetism. Shortly after, Steel Jeeg is formed. The Build Angels launch next, and after that, you and Nina in the Blühende Rose are the last out.
"Mira Ayana, Blühende Rose, launching!" You say as the thrusters of the Rose come to life. You clear the launch bay and start following Steel Jeeg and Big Shooter. Before you get very far, a stray Grasshopper gets into range and fires a missile salvo at you.
Grasshopper vs Blühende Rose
Grasshopper fires missiles
1d10 + 2 Ability
vs
Armor DC 12 = 6 Armor + 6 Ability
Roll 8
8 + 2 = 10
Mira attacks with Dark Lance Cannon
1d10 + 6 Ability
vs
Mobility DC 4 = 2 Mobility + 2 Ability
Roll 10
10 + 6 = 16
Result: Grasshopper is destroyed, no damage to Blühende Rose
You have no time dodge, but you don't really need to. You expect the cockpit to rock and shake with the impact and detonation of each missile, but nothing really happens except a notification that the missiles impacted the torso armor. The readouts show no damage at all. Without a second thought, you bring up the Rose's left arm and fire a round from the Dark Lance Cannon. A dark red, almost dagger shaped energy projectile sails through the void before hitting the Grasshopper dead center, causing it to explode. This was the extent of what the Grasshoppers could try to do to you in the Blühende Rose? You almost feel untouchable. You shake that thought out of your head before falling in behind Steel Jeeg and Big Shooter.
As you make your way to the enemy battleships, you have an opportunity to look back and see how the Nadesico and the Aestivalis pilots are doing.
Combat-Remaining Grasshoppers versus Nadesico and Aestivalis pilots
Grasshopper Squad x2 vs Gai and Akito
Grasshopper Squads fire laser cannons-roll 2 dice
2d10 + 2 Ability on each roll
vs
Akito Mobility DC 9 = 5 Mobility + 4 Ability
Gai Mobility DC 10 = 5 Mobility + 5 Ability
Roll 7, 2 = 9, 4
Akito Aestivalis Distortion Field Activates
Gai and Akito fight back
Mathematical auto success
Grasshopper Squad x7 vs Ryoko, Hikaru, and Izumi
Grasshopper squad fires mixed salvo of laser cannons and missiles
7d10 + 2 Ability on each roll
vs
Ryoko, Hikaru, and Izumi Mobility DC 10 = 5 Mobility + 5 Ability
2, 2, 7, 7, 1, 1, 3 = 4, 4, 9, 9, 3, 3, 10
Ryoko Aestivalis Distortion Field Activates
Ryoko, Hikaru, and Izumi fight back
Mathematical auto success
Result: No damage to any Aestivalis, Grasshoppers are decimated in return, all Grasshopper squads destroyed
It turns out you didn't need to worry, the Aestivalis pilots seem to have things well in hand from what you can see. Akito is screaming his lungs out over the squad comm, but is otherwise keeping things together as he barrels through Grasshoppers using a Distortion Field attack. Gai grabs a Grasshopper by the head, yelling, "Gai! Super! Upper!!!!!!" as he delivers a vicious uppercut with with his Aestivalis' right arm, obliterating the enemy machine. Ryoko's team are effortlessly dodging and weaving between the Grasshoppers, destroying the enemy robots with knives, machine guns, and knuckle dusters. A stray laser beam seems to catch Ryoko's Aestivalis in the side, only to ping off of its Distortion field. As the last of the Grasshoppers are destroyed, you turn your attention to the new, unknown enemy battleships.
Katonbo pair vs Jeeg team, Build Angels, and Blühende Rose
Katonbos fire laser cannons at Jeeg and Blühende Rose
1d10 + 4 Ability-Roll 2 dice
Jeeg Mobility DC 9 = 4 Mobility + 5 Ability
Blühende Rose Mobility DC 10 = 4 Mobility + 6 Ability
Kenji uses PERSIST
Mira uses ALERT
9, 10 = 13, 14
Kenji attacks a Katonbo with Melee Assault
1d10 + 5 Ability
vs
Armor DC 9 = 5 Armor + 4 Ability
Roll 8
8 + 5 = 13
Mira attacks a Katonbo with Energy Whip
1d10 + 6 Ability
vs
Armor Dc 9 = 5 Armor + 4 Ability + 1 (Nina copilot)
Roll 7
7 + 6 + 1 = 14
Result: Steel Jeeg takes minor damage (5900/6000 HP) Katonbos are destroyed
You realize the enemy ships are charging some kind of laser cannon and juke out of the way just in time to avoid being hit by a massive beam. Kenji isn't as fast, but he's able to grab a nearby piece of debris and use it as a shield. The debris is atomized in the process, but Steel Jeeg is able to come out of it with only minor scorch marks. This only serves to piss off Kenji.
"Oh that does it! Your ass is going to be scrap when I'm done with you!" Kenji yells as he pushes Steel Jeeg to maximum speed.
"Dynamite Kick!" Steel Jeeg does a diving kick at the closest enemy ship. A short distance before Jeeg makes impact, it comes into contact with some kind of barrier that bears an uncanny resemblance to the Nadesico's Distortion Field. It doesn't seem to do the enemy ship much good however, as it immediately begins to falter before seemingly dying under the strain. Steel Jeeg's kick creates a massive dent in the enemy ship's hull on impact, but Kenji's not satisfied with doing just that.
"You're in for it now! Hell Slap!" Both of Steel Jeeg's arms detach and spikes emerge from their palms and fingers. They slam repeatedly into the enemy ship's hull at breakneck pace. After a few seconds of this, the arms reattach, before Kenji buries Steel Jeeg's right arm into the guts of the enemy ship, tearing out numerous components. That seems to have killed the enemy ship, as it stops doing anything and just drifts in the void of space.
"Come on, let's not let Kenji have all the fun." You say to Nina.
"Right, raising Diffusion Crystal Drive output! It's all you Mira!" Nina says.
"Got it, take this, Energy Whip!" You yell.
You unfurl an oversized whip, energize it, and charge at the remaining enemy ship. You lash out at the enemy ship, its Distortion Field coming to life, but it falters and eventually fails under your assault. The Energy Whip bites into the hull, melting every part it comes in contact with. You crack the Energy Whip again and again, cutting off sections of the enemy ship before simply bisecting what's left, the separated halves exploding.
"Awesome!" Kenji exclaims.
"Wow, the girls and I were coming over to help you with the battleships, but it looks like that wasn't needed." Yagyuu says.
Before you can respond, the Dimensional Distortion readings that the Blühende Rose had picked earlier intensify. A green and white sphere 200 meters in diameter appears midway between you and the Nadesico.
????? appears
Roll 2d20, each die is a separate result
1-10|'Fish Bowl' mech x8
11-19|'Big Horn' Super Robot x2
20|All of the above
Roll 7, 11
Elite Unknown Appears
Roll 1d6
1-3|Bastard child of a Gundam and Variable Fighter on steroids
4-6|A Super Robot that looks like it did too much cocaine
Roll 5
The sphere breaks apart, and suddenly a group of the same Unknowns that appeared in Sasebo appear. You count eight 'Fish Bowl' mechs and two 'Big Horn' Super Robots. There's also a third type of machine that you haven't seen before, but are certain must be a custom job. For starters, it's absolutely massive, standing at 60 meters tall. It shares the same color scheme as its compatriots, but it also has a pure white stripe going diagonally down its chest from left to right. Unlike its allies, this Super Robot doesn't have any blocky segments, it's entire body sleek and curved. It's also covered in what looks like graffiti, there's a rictus grin spray painted onto what would otherwise be a featureless faceplate, and a pair of rust red eyes only adds to the unhinged look. The group of unknowns first looks over at the Nadesico, then over in your direction.
You feel a chill run down your spine as every single unknown seems to focus on you.
Tactical Information
-The Unknowns are between the Nadesico and its Aestivalis squads and your group, consisting of the Blühende Rose, Jeeg team, and Build Angels
-You are still within the debris field, so you can use large enough pieces as cover in a pinch
-The Graffiti Robot seems very dangerous
-The Unknowns are starting to move toward you
-The Nadesico can more easily recharge the Phase Transition Engine in space
-Current Will of every pilot in the group-7
-No Jeeg parts have been used, but due to being in space, the only usable Jeeg parts are the Jeeg bazooka
Transdimensional Assistance
The D?????? G????? and G??G??G?? will appear to assist at...some point in this combat
What will you do?
Select a plan
[ ] Pincer Attack
Attack with both groups from both sides
-Will surround the enemy
-Fighting will likely devolve into a messy free for all
-Your group (Jeeg team, Blühende Rose, and Build Angels) will be at risk of friendly fire if the Nadesico fires a Gravity Blast
[ ] Head of the snake
Focus attacks on the Graffiti Robot
-You and Steel Jeeg will focus fire on the Graffiti Robot to destroy it, or at least force it to retreat
-You do not know if retreat or destruction of the Graffiti Robot will cause the other Unknowns to also retreat
-Everyone else will run interference against the other Unknowns
[ ] Divide and Conquer
Draw the attention of the Graffiti Robot
-You will distract the Graffiti Robot while everyone else deals with the other Unknowns
-Steel Jeeg will take on the 'Big Horn' Super Robots
-Everyone else will focus on killing 'Fish Bowl' mechs
[ ] Write-in
-Your plan should have the following: What will you do? What will Kenji do? Who will deal with the fish bowls, and who will deal with the Big Horns? What will the Nadesico do? Remember you can group people as follows: Jeeg team (Kenji and Tsubaki), Build Angels, Aestivalis pair (Gai and Akito), Aestivalis Trio (Ryoko, Hikaru, and Izumi) and the Nadesico itself in addition to Mira
Also, please give your plan a cool or clever name. Shitpost names of plans will be accepted if they reference Nadesico, Kotetsushin Jeeg, or Original Generation
A/N: And here's the update! Sorry if things seem rushed or short, but early Nadesico enemies just don't seem like a big threat in small numbers in the early game. Anyway, vote and discuss please, and as always, I welcome constructive criticism!
Edit: fixed a typo with Jeeg's HP and added incoming transdimensional assistance I forgot to include