- Location
- Seattle, Washington
I don't understand, how are we not going hard enough?
because the engagement was over the ocean?
-
Going forward, links to content from Twitter (now X) will no longer be embedded. Pre-existing links should not be affected.
Ace Combat XCOM: Enemy Skies
- Thread starter hYGP
- Start date
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
Yeah. Put it this way. Imagine launching a thousand kilos of high explosive in a missile fired at the side of a big ol' mountain.
You leave a crater, but the mountain's still there, and it still looks pretty much the same as it did before, right?
The alien battleships are approximately as large as, and very possible more durable than, that mountain.
Well, we can always launch more expendable probe satellites in the vague hope that one of them can get a visual on the thing.
Because their X-COM branch did not cause its alien battleship to run away screaming something about a legendary super saiyan, like the Usean branch did.
NeonLights
Formerly Reliable_2IC
- Location
- In shambles
[X] [SPREAD] Take Bradford's suggestion.
[X] [STRAT] Vahlen
Let's build something so over engineered that people a century forward will ask "why did you build that?".
[X] [STRAT] Vahlen
Let's build something so over engineered that people a century forward will ask "why did you build that?".
- Location
- Somewhere over the rainbow
Because XCOM OSEA didn't win, and actually got driven off the field. That and aliens were literally in the capital shooting shit up after the aliens very traumatically blew things up, they're hearing reports on the frontier about Belkan forces overrunning B7R, and it's at this point that the Osean President does just about the worst possible thing he can do in his position and REEEEEE about all of Osea's so-called allies being useless and the only people that can be counted on is the Osean's spirit as the greatest nation in the world.
Hence, Militarism (at least in the central provinces) of 11/10. Hence why they pulled out of XCOM; they're so butt-fucking-mad about this that they're almost scrapping every mutual defense obligation they have in favor of pure "fuck the aliens and fuck the world for 'abandoning us'" as everyone else goes "wtf are you doing Osea stahp".
In other words, they're not being reasonable. At all. That's kinda represented by their Militarism breaking the scale.
No, because it's literally on the other side of the world, and your telescopes can't quite image through solid earth yet.
is now a good time to mention that one of the omake ideas i had last week was a future omake about the God Gun you guys can build? because I feel like now is a good time to mention it.Let's build something so over engineered that people a century forward will ask "why did you build that?".
Shroobmaster
Commander of the fun guy army
- Location
- california
Is it basically Chandelier but it fires solid shells instead of cruise missile capsules?
- Location
- Singapore
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] [SPREAD] Take Bradford's suggestion.
We currently have six squadrons with SS-tier pilots, seven if we include Pixy in that count. Therefore, we should reassign Pixy to the EOMDF to partner with El Cero, Cyclops to XCOM OSEA, Salamander Squadron to XCOM ANEA, Razgriz Squadron to XCOM VERUSA at Marina's request, and leave it at that. This leaves us with Strider, Mobius, Rigel, Druid, and Bard Squadron.
[X] [STRAT] Vahlen
Prioritize construction of defensive emplacements, as well as pouring money into defensive technologies to repel alien attacks in order to survive fire. This doctrine also emphasizes increasing the power of the superweapons - to make sure no second shot is necessary. Strategic Doctrine: Shielded Hyperweapon Development
We currently have six squadrons with SS-tier pilots, seven if we include Pixy in that count. Therefore, we should reassign Pixy to the EOMDF to partner with El Cero, Cyclops to XCOM OSEA, Salamander Squadron to XCOM ANEA, Razgriz Squadron to XCOM VERUSA at Marina's request, and leave it at that. This leaves us with Strider, Mobius, Rigel, Druid, and Bard Squadron.
[X] [STRAT] Vahlen
Prioritize construction of defensive emplacements, as well as pouring money into defensive technologies to repel alien attacks in order to survive fire. This doctrine also emphasizes increasing the power of the superweapons - to make sure no second shot is necessary. Strategic Doctrine: Shielded Hyperweapon Development
- Location
- New York
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] [SPREAD] Take Bradford's suggestion.
[X] [STRAT] Shen
[X] [STRAT] Shen
Holy shit, it just hit me! Our resident Belkan superweapon scientist, Siegfried's specialty is maneuverability, right? I just remembered that there is a pair of Ace Combat superweapons (From the Real World spinoff Joint Assault, admittedly) had one of their key attributes be their incredible aerial agility (for aircraft of their size)!
Orgoi and Spiridus
Hell, the latter is even VTOL-capable and can do a freaking Pugechev's Cobra, despite being arguably as big as Gleipnir! @huhYeahGoodPoint, would it be possible to commission him to bring these designs to life in Strangereal proper?
Orgoi and Spiridus
Hell, the latter is even VTOL-capable and can do a freaking Pugechev's Cobra, despite being arguably as big as Gleipnir! @huhYeahGoodPoint, would it be possible to commission him to bring these designs to life in Strangereal proper?
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- Location
- Meycauayan, Bulacan, Philippines
@huhYeahGoodPoint, has Long Caster already been told about Annie Scarborough's presence on base?
Has Pixy been told?
Has Pixy been told?
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
The question you need to ask yourself is:
Will that level of agility enable an aerial cruiser such as the Orgoi to dodge a battleship's rift cannon?
- Location
- Germany
[X] [SPREAD] Take Bradford's suggestion.
[X] [STRAT] Vahlen
[X] [STRAT] Vahlen
NottheCrabs!
Local fool making foolish things
- Location
- The Bottom of The Ocean
possibly? several of our planes managed to make it out of the rift zone just fine, and while its true that most are sitting targets to players those things are still going around 600 KMPH, and in Orgois case has enough manoeuvrability to dodge missiles and can achieve 800-1000 KM bursts. The Rift attack seems to act like a Helios missile, with a big red "YOU DIE" circle that takes a couple seconds to activate instead of ten. In the hands of a capable and experienced crew an Orgoi might be able to dodge it, and if we scavenge any major engine techs from the aliens I'd move that "maybe" into a "probably".
Although that might be a completely mute point with the Aliens beam attack, a multi-turn superweapon that dies in a couple of operations is not a useful expenditure. Its a possibility after we get a solution to the beam attack, not before. But as current aerial superweapon defences seem to be jack all useful and we can't just ignore one of strangereals major tools in warfare manoeuvrability seems like the best short term solution
[X] [SPREAD] Take Bradford's suggestion.
[X] [STRAT] Shen
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
If Vahlen is right, we may be able to design a shield that can block the white beam. Though I suspect it would overpower existing APS systems like those of the Arsenal Birds by brute force in any case.
Also, an airborne platform is mobile and may not be as feasible for targeting with the white beam, though the white beam almost certainly has a very substantial blast radius of effect as it passes through the atmosphere.
NottheCrabs!
Local fool making foolish things
- Location
- The Bottom of The Ocean
the question is whether or not the "shield" would add too much weight (either by itself or through the amount of power required to maintain it) to an aerial superweapon to make it properly manoeuvrable.
I really don't like working on maybe's, but fair enough on the second point.
I really don't like working on maybe's, but fair enough on the second point.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
Well, we won't know the performance parameters of the white beam until (God forbid) it is fired at Strangereal more times or (God willing) we capture some alien prisoners who know a few things about the weapon system. Until such time as we know more, it is impractical at best, and futile at worst, to try to engineer reliable defenses against a weapon whose sole known operating parameter is "it's really big."
Which, come to think of it, is an argument in favor of Bradford or Shen's ideas about how to counter the battleships, more so than Vahlen's...
[X] [STRAT] Bradford
[X] [STRAT] Shen
LucidProp
Pocky Eating MafiaDoka
[X] [SPREAD] Take Bradford's suggestion.
[X] [STRAT] Bradford
Coverage beats concentration considering we have a entire continent to safeguard. Considering enemy battleships can only get one shot off before they leave, overwhelming them with too many important threats is a valid strategy.
[X] [STRAT] Bradford
Coverage beats concentration considering we have a entire continent to safeguard. Considering enemy battleships can only get one shot off before they leave, overwhelming them with too many important threats is a valid strategy.
Icipall
Don't worry, we can fanfix that!
- Location
- Cold snow fields of Finland
@huhYeahGoodPoint
Were we able to figure out how large was the rift weapons AOE?
Were we able to figure out how large was the rift weapons AOE?
At least they still intend to fight.
Most of the world's reaction to Osea:
It would be useful if we could locate the remains of the Gullfaxi, to see how badly the beam messed it up, and how
- Location
- Somewhere over the rainbow
Yes, it would be possible.
No, Long Caster has been in top-priority meetings and Pixy basically went straight to sleep after something twenty hours airborne.
Rift weapons AOE is comparable to burst superweapons; they're not nuclear weapon sized, but they're also much bigger effect radius than standard missiles. Giving specific numbers is definitely going to be a mistake, but functionally the scale of them is around the effect of burst missiles.
KnightDisciple
Love God. Do Right. Fear No Man.
- Location
- Midwest, USA
[X] [SPREAD] Take Bradford's suggestion.
[X] [STRAT] Vahlen
[X] [STRAT] Vahlen
- Location
- Meycauayan, Bulacan, Philippines
Any of the meetings include information about the Estovakia-Wellow project about remote piloted MiG-21 fighters?
Also...
[X] [SPREAD] No, we should...
-[X] Send Razgriz Squadron to XCOM Osea, in public, with the colors of Wardog Squadron on half of their plane's side and the colors of Razgriz Squadron on the other half.
-[X] Send Rigel Squadron and Bard Squadron to X-COM Anea.
-[X] Send Cyclops Squadron to the EOMDF to fight alongside Cipher/El Cero.
-[X] Send Salamander Squadron and Druid Squadron to X-COM Verusa.
-[X] Keep Mobius Squadron, Pixy, Strider Squadron in Anea.
This is my reasoning for my options. I chose to send Cyclops Squadron instead of Pixy to Cipher because it would be better to send 5 S- Class Pilots than only one SS-Class Pilot there. For Rigel, Bard and Salamander and Druid, its because we are sending both a lot of pilots with S-Class pilots included among their number while still keeping back the best of the S-Class pilots with us. And for Razgriz? It is a morale boost chance to Osea and the Osean Continent, to announce that the heroes of the Circumpacific War are back, and back to save the day for Osea.
[X] [STRAT] Shen
Prioritize construction of large railguns, as well as burst munitions and jamming warheads. Eventually, gives bonus to high-altitude and top-performing fighters to distract the alien battleships - to make sure that they can't take the shot. Strategic Doctrine: Superweapon Combination Attacks
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Nixeu
Lord of Madness, Harbinger of Llamas
- Location
- Your nightmares.
Sounds like something he would have been considering during the brainstorming session from "Birds of a Feather", though the usefulness of any notes produced while strung out and over-caffeinated is potentially dubious.
Siegfried: "...Why did I give it a spoiler and racing stripes?"
[X] [SPREAD] Take Bradford's suggestion.
[X] [STRAT] Bradford
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
Here are my criticisms.
1) Cyclops and Pixy are not interchangeable modules with statlines. If we send Pixy back to EOMDF, we are reassembling the fucking Galm Team. The element that shattered the Belkan Air Force in '95. Based on their performance on the Grenada Plains, and that history, they've still got it. And there is every reason to think the two pilots have synergy bonuses together, and also that the morale effects on the Belkans will be terrible.
Belkans: "We have an army of alien allies."
EOMDF: "We have a Galm Team."
Belkans: ...I need to reconsider my life decisions.
2) Sending Rigel, Salamander, Druid, and Bard to X-COM ANEA and VERUSA is likely to get them killed. Squadrons of A-rankers or B-rankers with maybe an S-ranker squadron lead? They do not do well in combat against the aliens without support from more powerful aces. That's the kind of forces the other X-COM branches already have, and as we've seen they've been taking very heavy casualties. Just sending them more mooks isn't going to help significantly. Only X-COM ANEA can maybe handle that, and that's because they have an elite ace of their own (Talisman) and are probably something of a second-order target compared to the much larger equatorial continents of Osea, Verusa, and Usea. Don't send our mooks out. ALSO, don't give away all our mooks. Mooks grow into heroes... if you let them and don't piss away their lives throwing them at the enemy in enormous, wasteful waves.
3) Remember that the Razgriz are specifically Osean Air Force, as in Osea the country not Osea the continent. Osea the country has just expelled X-COM OSEA from its borders for not doing enough. Having the Razgriz openly advertise themselves as part of X-COM OSEA now would almost certainly be a disaster, because the Osean military would freak out and do something we'd all regret.
4) You said "keep Strider, Mobius, [Pixy], in Anea." I'm pretty sure you meant Usea.
...
Honestly I just think the default plan is good. We get EOMDF bonuses from a reassembled Galm Team. We get a strong and authentically Osean unit supporting X-COM OSEA's reconstructed form but one that isn't going to have dark political history with the Osean militarists. X-COM VERUSA gets a strong support unit, and one that the Yuktobanians certainly respect even if they also fear it. X-COM ANEA gets, well... not our best, but they need us the least since they have a broadly speaking intact combat force and haven't just been gutted by the loss of their superweapon and/or their base.
CANON OMAKE: Tracers In The Sky VII
- Location
- Meycauayan, Bulacan, Philippines
Here's another....omake!
==========================================================================================================================================================================================
In the same room in Aurel Vlaicu Airfield, near the Estovakian Capital of Campulung, where days earlier Strigon Squadron had their briefing and planning session regarding the impending raid of the Aliens on Gracemeria, an event was taking place.
In the front of the room was a man dressed in the clothes of a Sergent Major. At the back of the room, Capitan Comandor Toscha Mijasik and the entirety of Strigon Squadron watched on with confusion caused by being ordered to come to this briefing room by their superiors with no explanation whatsoever. And in the middle of the room...
"I am Sergent Major Vanda Rosu. On behalf of the Estovakian Air Force I welcome last year's Team Estovakia to Project Immortal Wasps!" the Sergent Major in the front of the room announced to the invited people.
"Yes, yes, welcome to Project whatever. Can you go straight to what the four of us are supposed to do for the Estovakian Air Force?"
The arrogant reply came from a sixteen year old boy who was completely dressed in the latest designer clothing from Sotoa, and was casually leaning back into his all metal folding chair.
The boy was Crown Prince Irfan ibn Kamal ibn Ziya al-Jabal, scion of the richest permanent resident in Estovakia, Emir Kamal ibn Ziya ibn Muhammad al-Jabal the exiled pretender to the throne of the former Emirate of Jabal now known as the State of Jabal in the Sotoan Treaty Organization, present owner of an astonishing 59% of Estovakia's Rye producing farms, unwanted savior of the Estovakian people from starvation during the Estovakian Civil War and special advisor to the Ministrul Agriculturii Si Dezvoltarii Rurale.
Crown Prince Irfan al-Jabal was also the highest paid professional gamer in Estovakia, specializing in Tracers in the Sky using the playerID Royalty. And was one of the two people who have consistently been a member of Team Estovakia for the Tracers in the Sky World Tournaments.
"Dear, please be more polite to the Sergent Major," a pregnant, disabled seventeen year old blonde girl gently scolded Crown Prince Irfan from her wheelchair.
"Why should I be polite in the first place Mariutza? Sending only a mere Sergent Major to give us the explanation? And of all of them, it's the one who will become Estovakia's next national pimp? Outrageous."
The girl was embarrassed by the words that came out of Irfan's mouth, to the point she covered up her face with her two hands.
Mariutza Lumina Elsa Balan, a native Estovakian orphan, was Crown Prince Irfan's 'spouse' and the source of contention between parts of the Estovakian government and the al-Jabal royal family on one hand and between Crown Prince Irfan and Emir Kamal on the other hand.
Mariutza was also Estovakia's second highest paid professional gamer, and the other consistent member of Team Estovakia, always flying behind her spouse in-game with the playerID CnDrL.
"Royalty, can you please shut up and let the Sergent Major talk?" a bespectacled, nineteen year old male college student hissed at Irfan, quickly looking between him and the slowly coloring face of Sergent Major Rosu.
"I am reluctant to allow Estovakia's next national pimp an opportunity to cover himself with martial achievement, Boomz. The mere notion is an insult to the honor of soldiers everywhere. Bring a properly ranked official to deliver that message to us. A General de Flotila Aeriana will do, in deference to my own position."
Adam Macelaru, playerID Boomz, the present highest ranking Tracers in the Sky player in the Estovakia and member of Team Estovakia for the second Tracers in the Sky World Tournament, frowned at Irfan.
"Why do you keep calling him the national pimp of Estovakia? As an Estovakian citizen I'm starting to get offended, Royalty."
"Because his father owns Gentle and Warm, the world's largest escort agency by number of models employed and the number of politicians, millionaires and billionaires their models service. And now, it looks like Gentle and Warm has gone further than the Flower Girls Association of Expo City has ever gone before if this pimp to be is here about to inform us of our roles for a secret Estovakian military project."
Mariutza looked at Irfan in skepticism after hearing that information. Macelaru and the other member of Team Estovakia on the other hand felt frozen, because of their unfamiliarity with real life...business, as the Expo City gangs euphemize it. And Strigon squadron was starting to become dismayed at the level of corruption that had just been hinted at in front of their very eyes.
"There will be no such thing, you inbred Sotoan trash," the Sergent Major retorted. "I'm the one who thought up this whole project. I'm the one who campaigned for this project -"
"Using your father's prostitutes," Crown Prince Irfan interrupted.
"With the help of my future employees now," Sergeant Major Rosu corrected in a proud manner. "And thus I lead this project under the direct supervision of the Ministrul Apararii."
"Oh Estovakia. I weep for you," the Crown Prince sighed, a sentiment the entirety of Strigon squadron had been feeling for some time now.
"Royalty, can we just listen to him so we can go home?" a skinny sixteen year old boy asked Irfan.
"Planehaxx is right, dear. Please?" Mariutza added to give support to the plea of Anton Ionescu, player ID Planehaxx, current third highest ranked Tracers in the Sky professional gamer and member of Team Estovakia for the second Tracers in the Sky World Tournament.
"Tsk. Very well, this Crown Prince shall deign to listen to this...this shameful dreg of the merchant class."
"...Project Immortal Wasps," Sergeant Major Rosu started to explain with gritted teeth, "is a never before seen melding of civilian and military in Estovakia. Using military hardware in the form of fighter planes, ordnance and tried and tested drone and remote control technology, and civilian software and hardware in the form of Blue Box flight simulators, Anea Mobile's cellular network, the software of Welewe Game Studio's Tracers in the Sky and the expertise of gamers, we aim to allow Estovakia to fly a never before seen number of fighter planes in defense of her own territory, and give aerial combat experience to a never before seen amount of patriotic civilian militia and Air Force cadets from the comfort and safety of air-conditioned classrooms, bedrooms, and office rooms."
"Sergent Major Rosu! I am Capitan Comandor Toscha Mijasik, Strigon Squadron!" the leader of Strigon Squadron suddenly spoke up as he strode forward, in the process surprising three of four members of Team Estovakia who were unaware of the identities of the soldiers seated a few rows behind them and making Sergent Major Rosu stand up straight. "Disregarding the fact we have not been informed about Project Immortal Wasps and that someone of your rank has jumped over the head of the General Maior of the Estovakian Air Force, what is this nonsense about civilian militia getting to fly remote controlled fighters and a never seen before amount of flying fighter planes?!"
"Capitan Comandor! I intend to tap into the huge player base of Tracers in the Sky to alleviate the shortage of pilots and advanced fighter planes and protect the pilots of the Estovakian Air Force, sir! And to demonstrate the proof of concept we will have the Team Estovakia from the latest Tracers in the Sky World Tournament fly a squadron, sir!"
"Advanced fighter planes? Thus implying we civilians will remote control outdated fighters, never mind that Tracers in the Sky only gives us gamers an approximation of an airplane's take off and landing." Crown Prince Irfan noted in a loud voice before Mijasik managed to respond to the earlier statement.
"You seem confident you professional gamers can fly a fighter jet that is already flying in the air," Capitan Comandor Mijasik asked, slightly peeved at the interruption by the teenager.
"Give us a day of practice with the rig and an already flying fighter plane, and we will be performing in real life as well as we perform in game," the Crown Prince answered in a confident manner. "Now answer me, Sergent Major Rosu. How do you solve the take off and landing problem, and what fighter planes are we supposed to fly mid-air?"
"The take off and landing problem is already long solved by drone technology ever since the Usean coup d'etat. We will simply have the plane auto-pilot itself during the take off and landing. As for the fighter planes, 80 MiG-21's had already been converted for Team Estovakia's sole usage in Project Immortal Wasps. The desired end goal of this project is being able to attack the Alien Flying Battleship with 5000 MiG-21's at the same time!"
Everyone in the room ended up silently staring at the Sergent Major because of Project Immortal Wasp's stated end goal.
"Ugh. Dear Mariutza, remind me to nag father into buying some Anea Mobile shares in the stock market as soon as we get home. It is clear how much money they will make from this project they are blatantly pushing through from behind," Crown Prince Irfan suddenly said after a few moments of silence. "For now, Boomz? Planehaxx? Team huddle with me and Mariutza and let's ignore the future king of pimps with his and Anea Mobile's fantasies. What do we know about the MiG-21 stats other than it's MiGeek's main aircraft? I use the Phantom most of the time."
And as the professional gamers started discussing the intricacies of the MiG-21, Capitan Comandor Mijasik started ripping into Sergent Major Rosu's fantastical end goal for Project Immortal Wasps in an attempt to salvage something usable immediately.
========================================================================================================================================================================================
So, what do you think @huhYeahGoodPoint? Canon?
==========================================================================================================================================================================================
In the same room in Aurel Vlaicu Airfield, near the Estovakian Capital of Campulung, where days earlier Strigon Squadron had their briefing and planning session regarding the impending raid of the Aliens on Gracemeria, an event was taking place.
In the front of the room was a man dressed in the clothes of a Sergent Major. At the back of the room, Capitan Comandor Toscha Mijasik and the entirety of Strigon Squadron watched on with confusion caused by being ordered to come to this briefing room by their superiors with no explanation whatsoever. And in the middle of the room...
"I am Sergent Major Vanda Rosu. On behalf of the Estovakian Air Force I welcome last year's Team Estovakia to Project Immortal Wasps!" the Sergent Major in the front of the room announced to the invited people.
"Yes, yes, welcome to Project whatever. Can you go straight to what the four of us are supposed to do for the Estovakian Air Force?"
The arrogant reply came from a sixteen year old boy who was completely dressed in the latest designer clothing from Sotoa, and was casually leaning back into his all metal folding chair.
The boy was Crown Prince Irfan ibn Kamal ibn Ziya al-Jabal, scion of the richest permanent resident in Estovakia, Emir Kamal ibn Ziya ibn Muhammad al-Jabal the exiled pretender to the throne of the former Emirate of Jabal now known as the State of Jabal in the Sotoan Treaty Organization, present owner of an astonishing 59% of Estovakia's Rye producing farms, unwanted savior of the Estovakian people from starvation during the Estovakian Civil War and special advisor to the Ministrul Agriculturii Si Dezvoltarii Rurale.
Crown Prince Irfan al-Jabal was also the highest paid professional gamer in Estovakia, specializing in Tracers in the Sky using the playerID Royalty. And was one of the two people who have consistently been a member of Team Estovakia for the Tracers in the Sky World Tournaments.
"Dear, please be more polite to the Sergent Major," a pregnant, disabled seventeen year old blonde girl gently scolded Crown Prince Irfan from her wheelchair.
"Why should I be polite in the first place Mariutza? Sending only a mere Sergent Major to give us the explanation? And of all of them, it's the one who will become Estovakia's next national pimp? Outrageous."
The girl was embarrassed by the words that came out of Irfan's mouth, to the point she covered up her face with her two hands.
Mariutza Lumina Elsa Balan, a native Estovakian orphan, was Crown Prince Irfan's 'spouse' and the source of contention between parts of the Estovakian government and the al-Jabal royal family on one hand and between Crown Prince Irfan and Emir Kamal on the other hand.
Mariutza was also Estovakia's second highest paid professional gamer, and the other consistent member of Team Estovakia, always flying behind her spouse in-game with the playerID CnDrL.
"Royalty, can you please shut up and let the Sergent Major talk?" a bespectacled, nineteen year old male college student hissed at Irfan, quickly looking between him and the slowly coloring face of Sergent Major Rosu.
"I am reluctant to allow Estovakia's next national pimp an opportunity to cover himself with martial achievement, Boomz. The mere notion is an insult to the honor of soldiers everywhere. Bring a properly ranked official to deliver that message to us. A General de Flotila Aeriana will do, in deference to my own position."
Adam Macelaru, playerID Boomz, the present highest ranking Tracers in the Sky player in the Estovakia and member of Team Estovakia for the second Tracers in the Sky World Tournament, frowned at Irfan.
"Why do you keep calling him the national pimp of Estovakia? As an Estovakian citizen I'm starting to get offended, Royalty."
"Because his father owns Gentle and Warm, the world's largest escort agency by number of models employed and the number of politicians, millionaires and billionaires their models service. And now, it looks like Gentle and Warm has gone further than the Flower Girls Association of Expo City has ever gone before if this pimp to be is here about to inform us of our roles for a secret Estovakian military project."
Mariutza looked at Irfan in skepticism after hearing that information. Macelaru and the other member of Team Estovakia on the other hand felt frozen, because of their unfamiliarity with real life...business, as the Expo City gangs euphemize it. And Strigon squadron was starting to become dismayed at the level of corruption that had just been hinted at in front of their very eyes.
"There will be no such thing, you inbred Sotoan trash," the Sergent Major retorted. "I'm the one who thought up this whole project. I'm the one who campaigned for this project -"
"Using your father's prostitutes," Crown Prince Irfan interrupted.
"With the help of my future employees now," Sergeant Major Rosu corrected in a proud manner. "And thus I lead this project under the direct supervision of the Ministrul Apararii."
"Oh Estovakia. I weep for you," the Crown Prince sighed, a sentiment the entirety of Strigon squadron had been feeling for some time now.
"Royalty, can we just listen to him so we can go home?" a skinny sixteen year old boy asked Irfan.
"Planehaxx is right, dear. Please?" Mariutza added to give support to the plea of Anton Ionescu, player ID Planehaxx, current third highest ranked Tracers in the Sky professional gamer and member of Team Estovakia for the second Tracers in the Sky World Tournament.
"Tsk. Very well, this Crown Prince shall deign to listen to this...this shameful dreg of the merchant class."
"...Project Immortal Wasps," Sergeant Major Rosu started to explain with gritted teeth, "is a never before seen melding of civilian and military in Estovakia. Using military hardware in the form of fighter planes, ordnance and tried and tested drone and remote control technology, and civilian software and hardware in the form of Blue Box flight simulators, Anea Mobile's cellular network, the software of Welewe Game Studio's Tracers in the Sky and the expertise of gamers, we aim to allow Estovakia to fly a never before seen number of fighter planes in defense of her own territory, and give aerial combat experience to a never before seen amount of patriotic civilian militia and Air Force cadets from the comfort and safety of air-conditioned classrooms, bedrooms, and office rooms."
"Sergent Major Rosu! I am Capitan Comandor Toscha Mijasik, Strigon Squadron!" the leader of Strigon Squadron suddenly spoke up as he strode forward, in the process surprising three of four members of Team Estovakia who were unaware of the identities of the soldiers seated a few rows behind them and making Sergent Major Rosu stand up straight. "Disregarding the fact we have not been informed about Project Immortal Wasps and that someone of your rank has jumped over the head of the General Maior of the Estovakian Air Force, what is this nonsense about civilian militia getting to fly remote controlled fighters and a never seen before amount of flying fighter planes?!"
"Capitan Comandor! I intend to tap into the huge player base of Tracers in the Sky to alleviate the shortage of pilots and advanced fighter planes and protect the pilots of the Estovakian Air Force, sir! And to demonstrate the proof of concept we will have the Team Estovakia from the latest Tracers in the Sky World Tournament fly a squadron, sir!"
"Advanced fighter planes? Thus implying we civilians will remote control outdated fighters, never mind that Tracers in the Sky only gives us gamers an approximation of an airplane's take off and landing." Crown Prince Irfan noted in a loud voice before Mijasik managed to respond to the earlier statement.
"You seem confident you professional gamers can fly a fighter jet that is already flying in the air," Capitan Comandor Mijasik asked, slightly peeved at the interruption by the teenager.
"Give us a day of practice with the rig and an already flying fighter plane, and we will be performing in real life as well as we perform in game," the Crown Prince answered in a confident manner. "Now answer me, Sergent Major Rosu. How do you solve the take off and landing problem, and what fighter planes are we supposed to fly mid-air?"
"The take off and landing problem is already long solved by drone technology ever since the Usean coup d'etat. We will simply have the plane auto-pilot itself during the take off and landing. As for the fighter planes, 80 MiG-21's had already been converted for Team Estovakia's sole usage in Project Immortal Wasps. The desired end goal of this project is being able to attack the Alien Flying Battleship with 5000 MiG-21's at the same time!"
Everyone in the room ended up silently staring at the Sergent Major because of Project Immortal Wasp's stated end goal.
"Ugh. Dear Mariutza, remind me to nag father into buying some Anea Mobile shares in the stock market as soon as we get home. It is clear how much money they will make from this project they are blatantly pushing through from behind," Crown Prince Irfan suddenly said after a few moments of silence. "For now, Boomz? Planehaxx? Team huddle with me and Mariutza and let's ignore the future king of pimps with his and Anea Mobile's fantasies. What do we know about the MiG-21 stats other than it's MiGeek's main aircraft? I use the Phantom most of the time."
And as the professional gamers started discussing the intricacies of the MiG-21, Capitan Comandor Mijasik started ripping into Sergent Major Rosu's fantastical end goal for Project Immortal Wasps in an attempt to salvage something usable immediately.
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So, what do you think @huhYeahGoodPoint? Canon?
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- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
I mean, some obvious practical problems with this kind of plan...
Firstly, planes like MiG-21s and F-104s are cheap in IC budget, but not necessarily because they can be mass-produced by the thousands for a reasonable sum of money and resources. You may be saving money by buying spares, or planes that other nations have cast off and left in a boneyard somewhere... but by that same token, there aren't just going to be thousands and thousands of serviceable airframes around. The supply is limited, and the tooling and factory experience that would normally be used to manufacture more advanced aircraft will not be efficiently used making thousands of much more primitive planes.
Secondly, the alien battleship specifically is going to present problems to a drone swarm. For one, it has a powerful area effect attack. For another, the sheer density of planes in the sky would present collision hazards to any human pilots operating in the battlespace. Be a real pity if one of those janky MiG-21 drone copies crashed into Talisman.
Thirdly, ground logistics. The MiG-21 is a famously low-maintenance aircraft, but five thousand planes still means a lot of aircrew, among other things. It also means a lot of runway space and coordination to get the planes in the air. Planes need considerable time and space to land; it's not safe for them to take off ten seconds apart, and even if you're willing to write off the drones, a collision on a runway locks down that runway and blocks many drones from taking off. Physically providing enough space for 5000 MiG-21s to take off and land in a single area is problematic. Refueling them in midair will be nigh-impossible, too, which means they only have so much endurance. It's quite possible that by the time the last drones are taking off, the first drones will already have been forced to land due to running out of fuel.
Firstly, planes like MiG-21s and F-104s are cheap in IC budget, but not necessarily because they can be mass-produced by the thousands for a reasonable sum of money and resources. You may be saving money by buying spares, or planes that other nations have cast off and left in a boneyard somewhere... but by that same token, there aren't just going to be thousands and thousands of serviceable airframes around. The supply is limited, and the tooling and factory experience that would normally be used to manufacture more advanced aircraft will not be efficiently used making thousands of much more primitive planes.
Secondly, the alien battleship specifically is going to present problems to a drone swarm. For one, it has a powerful area effect attack. For another, the sheer density of planes in the sky would present collision hazards to any human pilots operating in the battlespace. Be a real pity if one of those janky MiG-21 drone copies crashed into Talisman.
Thirdly, ground logistics. The MiG-21 is a famously low-maintenance aircraft, but five thousand planes still means a lot of aircrew, among other things. It also means a lot of runway space and coordination to get the planes in the air. Planes need considerable time and space to land; it's not safe for them to take off ten seconds apart, and even if you're willing to write off the drones, a collision on a runway locks down that runway and blocks many drones from taking off. Physically providing enough space for 5000 MiG-21s to take off and land in a single area is problematic. Refueling them in midair will be nigh-impossible, too, which means they only have so much endurance. It's quite possible that by the time the last drones are taking off, the first drones will already have been forced to land due to running out of fuel.