I think you did a really good job with the speech. I'm going to need to think a bit on the vote unless someone else comes up with something first.
Also I think the reason we aren't progressing all that quickly with our training is because we aren't training with anyone else. X was a learning robot after all and even normal people progress much slower alone. We should either get a custom training mechaniloid so it won't blab about how bad we are or take up training melee weapons with Harpuia and Phantom. We could use the excuse that X never focused on melee and we've gotten rusty over the decades. This way we could train without raising too much suspicion.
I don't know if this is the best plan, but it's what I've come up with.
[X]Communicate with the generals of the armies, order a deployment
-[X] Deploy Rekku, Jin'en, and Zan'ei
--[X] Deploy Aztec Falcon to lead the Rekku forces (quick response and scouting), Anubis to lead the Jin'en forces (his ability to summon zombies should be invaluable), and Hanumachine to lead a small Zan'ei force (he wanted to be more involved in combat so the Zan'ei can work to identify and eliminate possible enemy leaders). Send Harpuia, Fefnir, and Phantom for some on the job training, but have them retreat if things get too dicey.
[X]Communicate with the generals of the armies, order a deployment
-[X] Deploy Rekku, Jin'en, and Zan'ei
--[X] Deploy Aztec Falcon to lead the Rekku forces (quick response and scouting), Anubis to lead the Jin'en forces (his ability to summon zombies should be invaluable), and Hanumachine to lead a small Zan'ei force (he wanted to be more involved in combat so the Zan'ei can work to identify and eliminate possible enemy leaders). Send Harpuia, Fefnir, and Phantom for some on the job training, but have them retreat if things get too dicey.
Do you think we should come up with a strategy to evacuate the Exploration Team as quickly as possible? I kind of feel like we don't know enough about the situation yet to figure out how feasible that is.
The stats were slightly updated. Your aim has been updated to Basic Troop level As a comparison pantheon units are at that level, together with most police forces and regular troops.
On more relevant news, I'm going to close votes in a day, there are 2 votes, and they are incompatible. I have a simple procedure to solve that, but I really don't want to use it. I guess that's all for now.
[X]Communicate with the generals of the armies, order a deployment
-[X] Deploy Rekku, Jin'en, and Zan'ei
--[X] Deploy Aztec Falcon to lead the Rekku forces (quick response and scouting), Anubis to lead the Jin'en forces (his ability to summon zombies should be invaluable), and Hanumachine to lead a small Zan'ei force (he wanted to be more involved in combat so the Zan'ei can work to identify and eliminate possible enemy leaders). Send Harpuia, Fefnir, and Phantom for some on the job training, but have them retreat if things get too dicey.
In emergency situations, a protocol is activated between the commanders and key members of all security forces in the city. In order to facilitate communications and avoid incidents all of them receive a secret alert, no matter the location or time of the day. This is the security level 4 procedure. It also allows to establish a link between any of the mentioned forces.
It takes you but seconds to activate said procedures. This is the first emergency of such kind on a long time, and you are not taking any chance.
You contact the 3 of the 5 generals in direct line, and await response.
"Master X" The answer doesn't take long to appear.
"I trust you receive the security alert. We are going to deploy forces immediately, to repel this menace and assist the explorer teams."
"Understood" Answers Hanumachine, his voice high pitched but firm. "Zan'ei forces are always ready for battle. We can borrow Jin'en light vehicles and we'll be there in 30 minutes".
"Actually," You stop him "I want you and your forces to identify possible leaders among the hordes, and only engage those"
"Yes, of course. It will be done" Hanumachine's answer is quick and certain.
"Aztec Falcon, you and your forces are the quickest." You continue "I want you to scout the mechaniloid forces and harass them. How long would it take for you to arrive?"
"Hmm, climate reports estimate mild desert storms, so a small force would take about 20 minutes." Falcon hesitates a little "A larger force will take an hour to arrive, though. Our biggest air machines need to be warmed up."
"It will have to suffice" You say.
With the Zan'ei taking care of leaders, and the Rekku harassing, there's only the problem with dealing with the horde proper. While all armies have capable combatants, the Jin'en are the masters at ground warfare, and their general always has numbers at his disposal. He should do.
"Anubis Necromancess, you and your troops will push the horde back."
"Yes, Master" Answers Anubis with a voice deep and a whisper ."Your enemies will crumble to dust at my feet"
You often wonder how he passed the psychological testing to be in the armies, but his competency goes without question.
"There's one more thing" you mention.
You read some time ago about an ancient saying, about not wasting a crisis. You also know 4 young reploids that could use some field experience.
"Are Harpuia, Fenfnir and Phantom awake?"
"Yes" Answers Falcon. "Sage Harpuia is expected to observe the rekku army's part of the operation and make an analysis on everything. I assume the other 2 will have similar tasks"
"I think they are ready to participate directly in the operation, if you don't deem the risk to high Generals"
There's silence in the line, as the 3 generals muse on the possible dangers and perils, weighted against the abilities of the generals to be.
"It can be done" Finally answers Hanumachine. "Depending on the threat level, Phantom can engage particularly smart mechaniloids. He can certainly identify them."
"Harpuia's ranged skills need work, but recons he can do as the best"
"Fenfnir is ready to face our enemies. Cleansing fire burns within his core"
"It is settled then. Proceed with haste, Generals"
...
10 minutes have passed since you gave the order of deployment. On your room, cameras show the movement of the small squads going to battle. On your radio there's the constant background noise, indicating the signal has not been lost.
The Rekku troops (Aztec Falcon, Sage Harpuia, and 18 other individuals) were the first to depart, traveling on 1 shuttle and 2 battle helicopters.
Several minutes later, Fighting Fefnir, Anubis Necromancess and 20 troopers departed in the same direction, carrying with them 1 light tank and 1 transport vehicle.
Accompanying them are 2 Zan'ei troopers, Hanumachine and Hidden Phantom.
You can do little but wait, while the scouting force gets a clearer picture of the battle zones.
...
One of the battle helicopters takes a turn eastwards, while the other 2 vehicles keep their direction.
Minutes later, the first images start to show on both groups.
Team 15 of the Jin'en Explorer arm is in the open, surrounded by approximately a hundred hostile mechaniloids, and what appears to be either a Golem, or a very big mechaniloid.
Team 8 is in a far better position, with less than fifty mechaniloids against them, they are not completely surrounded and are very close to above-ground ruins.
While you see the images on the Tower a whirling inside the shuttle's cabin signals an opening ramp.
Harpuia steps in front of said ramp, standard rifle in hand. He test his back propulsor-wings and proceeds to lean over the edge until he's in free fall.
Another monitor start showing what Harpuia sees, and as he swoops and flies around the 8th explorer team, something worrying starts to become evident.
On the ground there appears to be only 8 explorers, and there's no trace of the other 6.
The explorers are already trading plasma with the mechaniloids, several of the smaller ones are downed but the bigger ones have the team pinned to the vehicles.
The Jin'en and Zan'ei forces are 10 minutes away and team 15 seems in deep troubles. The Rekku army is soliciting permission to engage, in accordance to the plan.
Enemies:~25 human sized mechaniloids (civilian level), 5 car sized mechaniloids (basic troop level)
This is about to be your (well, not technically you you, but your troop's) first real combat situation in this quest, so I present you the fighting mechanics.
Each combatant has a certain level. They can be met, civilian, basic troop, veteran, boss and other levels beyond. Each level roughly means they can defeat one enemy of equal level, 5 of the previous level, 25 of the previous previous level and so on. Aztec Falcon would, for example, maybe defeat Hanumachine, barely defeat 5 veteran reploids, tire against 25 basic troops and massacre almost 200 civilians before getting overwhelmed.
On a 3 vs 3 sort of fight things like shooting level and agility are more relevant, especially if you plan some combat strategy. Being a basic shooter against a boss evader is not exactly ideal.
For this kind of conflicts where CX is not the one fighting and/or the amount of allies and enemies is big, the process is streamlined and only the 'overal' level really counts.
Oh, and this is important. Levels reflect what you know about the subject's capacity. You can guess wrong, be misled or plainly don't know.
Also, sorry for the delay (domestic things keep needing my time, and procastination steals the rest), and as usually comments, questions and corrections are welcomed and appreciated.
Oh wow, I can totally identify with CX in this situation. For a second I wish we'd gone in too before I remembered we have mook level shooting skills. I'm too tired right now to come up with anything and I've never been good at this sort of thing, but I'll try and figure something out once I get some sleep if no one else has.
Oh wow, I can totally identify with CX in this situation. For a second I wish we'd gone in too before I remembered we have mook level shooting skills. I'm too tired right now to come up with anything and I've never been good at this sort of thing, but I'll try and figure something out once I get some sleep if no one else has.
True, but we don't want to look bad in front of the troops. Not only could it blow our cover, but it could be demoralizing.
Also I'm stupid and was massively overthinking things.
[X]Authorize engagement
We can't really do much until the Zan'ei and Jin'en troops show up. I was so sick and exhausted my reading comprehension was shot. After that happens and they engage the enemy we should be able to better figure out who to target. Ideally once reinforcements show up we'll be able to pull enough troops off them that we can create a path to evacuate them.
Battle at night. Image found on internet. This chapter's battle occurs in a far more desertic ground.
"Permission granted" You say, not deviating from the original plan of action.
"Understood." Replies Falcon, still on board the shuttle. "Overchid, I want your helicopter on top of those hostiles, the group in front of you. See if you can destroy them. Harpuia, see those heavy mechaniloids at your left?"
"I do"
"Spray them with your rifle, and do try not to get hit. I want them focused on you and not the shuttle. Right now!"
"Understood, general"
You can see over several cameras and screens the operation unfolding.
Sage Harpuia approach the big mechaniloids. The 5 war machines see him, and immediately try to adjust their tail-cannons against the air menace.
Harpuia shots first. The rifle expels a burst of bullets, much faster than plasma fire even if less lethal. He accelerates and flies once above them, the shockwave of his passing impacting at the same time as the bullets.
As he circles towards the machines, the projectiles reach their destination. Many of them hit their targets, perforating limbs and affecting the exposed eyes of the scorpion-like machines. Yet the machines endure, and many bullets miss.
The mechaniloids fire in turn. Twin spheres of plasma circle each other as they travel through the air, towards Harpuia.
He easily dodges the first volley, sees another pair pass him by and dives to avoid the third one. There's a sudden flash at his right, and an explosion sends him spiraling to the left.
A close one.
The helicopter reach its target, a group of 8 smaller mechaniloids trading shots with the explorers. The pilot, a female reploid by the name of Viol Overchid stabilizes the vehicle, while the gunner calmly aims the mouth turret and unlocks the trigger.
The explorers could have had a better day. Trapped between 2 vehicles and just enough maverick pets to kill them all, they try to figure out who just arrived while trying to clear a route to the ruins.
One of them tries to raise his head to see if the southern way is free. He immediately falls to the ground, balls of plasma taking chunks off the top of the van.
He tries again, this time from the back side. Another mechaniloid raises its hand-cannon, at the same instant being shredded by the gunfire of the helicopter.
The other mechaniloids try to react on time, but a sweeping move of the mouth turret reduces them to flying hands and sparkling circuitry.
"Rekku forces! They must be rekku forces, they appear to be on our side!"
Some of the explorer corps cheer at that, while the rest try to keep their heads down from the bulk of the mechaniloids at the north.
Harpuia tries to gain altitude, several pairs of plasma balls following him. He stops, and descends in spirals while many of the shots explode around him.
As he approach the mechaniloids, the sky once more gets saturated by the twin spheres. He dodges them once, twice, thrice until the sheer amount forces him to retreat once more.
On the ground, the shuttle begins to descend while the explorers try to engage a second mechaniloid group.
One of the machines is hit with a plasma ball in the "face", melting it and half its thorax instantly.
The shuttle manages to be distraction enough for one of the explorers to man the vehicle's machinegun, setting 3 other ladybug-robots on fire before a tick grenade grapes the handle.
The explosion disables the machinegun, and sends the reploid flying into the ground. He isn't moving and what's left of his arms appear badly mangled and burnt.
A precision burst to the hive-like grenade launcher bisects it before exploding, but the return fire from the rampant machines forces the rest of the explorers to retreat.
One of the explorers isn't fast enough. 2 plasma balls impact her legs, making her fall towards the relative safety of cover.
The scorpion-looking big mechaniloids form a perimeter, to better target the green flying reploid firing at them non-stop.
Said reploid begins to gain altitude, as if to land in the middle of the accursed machines and end them once and for all.
They readjust their tails, changing their regular shots for seeker missiles, and fire.
Harpuia expected this. He keeps flying until the spheres of energy are at a hundred meters from him, and then he retreats with 3 energy missiles after him.
The mechaniloids change their firing mode once again, and when Harpuia flies toward them they fire.
This time, he accelerates hugging the ground. With the half-spent rifle he aims, and manages to temporally blind the closest mechaniloid while on collision course.
He aims, focus his mind and in an instant he crashes into the ground.
The impact raises a cloud of dust and debris, just enough to further blind the machine's senses. Old algorithms register the fallen enemy as just that, and the machine searchs for a new target. Then a propulsor reactivates at maximum potency, and a green reploid speeds behind the legs of the car-sized mechanical scorpion.
The mechaniloid turns towards the assailant, then a pair of missiles impact it on its ventral area making it jump 4 meters into the air and sending legs and armor flying away from the main chassis.
For your mission and your duty, you have to keep appearances. But that maneuver Harpuia did over there? it was amazing. So instead of cheering and gushing, you keep an impassive face.
In the shuttle, Aztec Falcon monitors the situation outside without much interest. 15 cannon fodder mechaniloids and 4 rogue artillery pieces against 7 waste experts, with air support and the general-to-be? All but an assured victory. That much he let you know already.
What has picked his attention however, is the mechaniloid movement against Team 15.
"The combat helicopter is already providing breathing ground for the second team, the maverick horde appears to have been retreating for the last 5 minutes."
"And visual confirmed the presence of the Golem, and its path" You mention. You have read once about the Golems, supposedly the ultimate in anti-infantry mechaniloids. They were widely used in the Elf Wars from both sides until they could no longer be called sides. Very lethal machines, if the rumors are true.
"It seems I'll have to handle this mechaniloid trash personally, so the Jin'en can focus their forces on rescuing their own" Comments Falcon, again eyeing the battlefield.
"I'll tell one transport to go meet you there, the other 2 will go towards Team 15" You answer. You still consider that sending Jin'en troops to support the air army is more logical than sending said army to battle alone, even with one general on the field.
"Understood, Master X" He opens a different channel "Pilot Flech, tell your troops to begin harassing the artillery mechaniloids. They have anti-air capabilities, and the upper armor is tough stuff. Do not approach the golem, kill the smaller mechaniloids if possible. Jin'ei forces are approaching, they bring a tank. Good hunt."
With that order, the second helicopter over the bigger battleground opens its hangar, and 3 flying reploids part in different directions.
If the battlefield where the Explorer team 8 got ambushed was a siege, the one where team 15 fights is a carnage.
A closer view from the helicopter reveals 4 injured reploids, 2 of them holding damaged limbs while other is in the ground with a fair part of the abdomen perforated.
The mechaniloid side is faring much worse. 2 dozen bodies lie destroyed along the impromptu camp, many of them unrecognizable beyond some pieces and scorch marks on the ground.
The reploids are divided on 2 groups, using the vehicles as cover against the bigger mechaniloids while precision fire keeps most of the human-sized ones at bay. The vehicles themselves are showing signs of battle damage, the kind of damage that would permanently ruin a civilian model.
Several flying reploids, Falcon's troops, begin maneuvers to distract the bigger mechaniloids. 2 of them were already downed when they arrived, but the more pressure taken from the explorers the better.
One of the flying troopers drops a grenade against a giant beetle mechaniloid. The beetle reacts by activating its wing-turbines just in time, sending the primed grenade towards 2 unfortunate mechaniloids.
The other 2 troopers keep shooting plasma at the war machines, damaging their armor little by little all while avoiding energy balls and the odd beam.
A sudden rush from the left side of the camp takes the defenders by surprise, forcing them to take cover. One reploid gets too close to an electrical bomb, his body being instantly paralyzed by the discharge.
At this, his companion jumps in the middle of the advance while parrying the shots directed at his comrade. Despite the number of troops he keeps advancing, until the internal commands of the machines forces them to reload.
He aims his bazooka, a weapon almost as tall as him, at the sky. He shoots.
The mechaniloids don't have enough time to react when 5 of them get hit by high-speed missiles.
The side of the battleground is lighted by the explosions, and when they recede the rest of the group gets ventilated by the combat helicopter's own fire.
After that, the battle gets more calm. Team 15 is still surrounded, but the pretense of the helicopter preempts a total circle from forming.
The Jin'en and Zan'ei forces are a few minutes away from both sites, and the amount of troops, tanks and powerful reploids would be very welcomed on any of those.
Yet, as several sensors can show, the golem is still approaching, and with it a bulk of anti-air mechaniloids.
Enemies: 15 human sized mechaniloids (civilian level), 4 car sized mechaniloids (basic troop level)
Well, at least it didn't took 2 weeks this time. Also, in case it's not all that clear, in the spoilers indicating enemy and allied forces, bolded and brighter means more powerful. That may be of use in deciding where to put who against what. Troops too injured/dead to combat are not listed. Comments, questions and corrections are appreciated and welcomed, as usual.
I'm not sure how to use the shuttle, but otherwise here is my vote.
[X]Communicate with the troops, you want to...
-[X]Change Rekku mission or targets (write in)
--[X]Begin harassing the forces attacking Team 15, but avoid the Golem. Leave Sage Harpuia, 5 rekku troopers, and the battle helicopter until Team 8 evacuates.
-[X]Change Jin'en mission or targets (write in)
--[X]Have them fight the units attacking Team 15 once they reach the battlefield, but leave the Golem to zan'ei.
-[X]Change Zan'ei mission or targets (write in)
--[X]Bring down the Golem as quickly as possible, then focus on the car sized mechaniloids, and then the basic troops.
[X]Communicate with explorer team 8 (write in)
-[X]Fight until you can evacuate.
[X]Communicate with explorer team 15 (write in)
-[X]Continue to fight defensively until help arrives.
-[X]Change Rekku mission or targets (write in)
--[X]Begin harassing the forces attacking Team 15, but avoid the Golem. Leave Sage Harpuia, 5 rekku troopers, and the battle helicopter until Team 8 evacuates.
-[X]Change Jin'en mission or targets (write in)
--[X]Have them fight the units attacking Team 15 once they reach the battlefield, but leave the Golem to zan'ei.
-[X]Change Zan'ei mission or targets (write in)
--[X]Bring down the Golem as quickly as possible, then focus on the car sized mechaniloids, and then the basic troops.
[X]Communicate with explorer team 8 (write in)
-[X]Fight until you can evacuate.
[X]Communicate with explorer team 15 (write in)
-[X]Continue to fight defensively until help arrives.
You think about the opinion general falcon gave to you. As far as he's concerned, team 8's battle is an assured victory, while the presence of the golem and a higher number of hostile troops against team 15 makes their battle much less certain.
A change of plans is due right now. Harpuia is doing great (you'd say amazing, but since Falcon has kept his voice box shut so do you), and is the general is as good as the green reploid they can finish up moping the mechaniloids before the explorers...
The explorers! The mission is to rescue them in the first place and you almost forgot to sent them any kind of hail! You can correct that right now, and order a retreat while you are at it. Both teams already know they are getting rescued, but communicating with the incoming forces should help avoid disarray.
That would leave the blunt of the forces towards rescuing team 15 once they all arrive.
"General Falcon, I want all your forces moving towards explorer team 15's location" you say, a plan already forged in your head. "You and Harpuia are to help team 8 evacuate as soon as it's safe to do so."
"Master, with our current forces and the help of the explorers we will be able to wipe out the remaining mechaniloids"
"Those forces will be needed elsewhere. Fight the mechaniloids for as long as it takes to make a safe retreat, no more"
"...Understood, Master X. It will be done" Falcon turns his neck, activating his radio transmitter.
"Harpuia, I want you to focus on the smaller hostiles, drive them off by any means necessary. We are evacuating the explorers, keep them as safe as you can." Falcon muses for a second, producing a low, humming sound "I will be distracting the 'scorpioroids', you will take care of the rest. Keep yourself alive"
"Understood, general." Replies Sage. You hear him giving some orders to the pilots, but you need to concentrate on your current call.
Trying to find a way to communicate with the explorer teams turns out a bit harder than expected. They are Jin'en forces, and thus the need to contact their operators. But due to how recent (and technically in-progress) the merging was, said operators had to search and contact the personal explorer team's own operators, and not all the teams had one of those.
After several moments, you establish a proper line with the team leader, a reploid by the name of Bish.
"Explorer Bish, can you hear me?" It is your 4th attempt, and to be honest you are getting angry with the transmission. Having airships close enough helps, but outside key forces reception is still poor.
"Operator? I can hear you just fine!" Bish answers, sounding both relieved and tired "We don't know what the hell happened, this horde just appeared and shot our vehicles to scrap! We need medics, munitions, damn, we are even glad the air boys passed by."
"We need your team to get ready for an evacuation, the Rekku forces are going to get you out of this battle as soon as able."
You heard several yells on the other side, along the usual sounds of battle.
"Quick, I need you to link me with a medic! Arc is not moving, it looks bad."
At that order you quickly scramble through several screens, until locating the on call Jin'en medic . Connecting her with Bish takes but a few seconds, while you explain as fast as you can the situation. Voice-only transmissions are not your ideal medium, but there's no time for anything else. You also take the chance to link Harpuia to the call, since he will be directing the evacuation.
You let go a bit of air after that finishing that. For being your first time as an operator, you did it pretty well.
And you just did that.
And you should be doing something else right now, like communicating with the incoming forces instead of ending up as an operator.
Right.
"General Necromancess, General Hanumachine, I need you both to redirect your forces towards the explorer team 15. Harpuia and Falcon have the other site covered."
"Mmm, so... Our mission to determine the leaders of this group and their weaknesses still stand, Master?" Says Hanumachine, his high-pitched voice forming half a question and half an assessment.
You think about it. While the Jin'en are a more general force, the Zan'ei are more specialized on dealing with single targets. Like the golem. "You will focus on the golem, since it seems to be the most powerful adversary. Find a way to defeat it, while the rest of the forces focus on the other mechaniloids."
"They won't escape my grasp." Comments Necromancess, hand gesture included for effect.
"Your enemies will fall before our feet, Master" Affirms Hanumachine before cutting his transmission.
Done that, there's only one set of orders to give in order complete your plan. So again you turn to search a way to contact an ambushed explorer group, all while in another monitor Harpuia's POV is shown.
...
The mechaniloids look up. Those of them with guns attempt to use them against the incoming target, but it reaches them first.
There's a cloud of dust, debris and some bolts where the green reploid lands. A hail of fire quickly follows, disabling several machines, making others explode and forcing those smart enough to retreat. The few shoots they manage to land make Sage cover his face, but little else.
A sound of several troops landing can be heard close by. Harpuia turns around and on his vision it can be seen 5 other Rekku reploids, all of them porting a jetpack on their back. Their landing puts them in a circle around the explorers, 2 of them already engaging a group of small mechaniloids coming from the left.
All in all they make it look easy. An explosion can be seen further away, a mixture of yellow flame and cyan electrical arcs briefly shining in the night. It would seem Aztec Falcon is already distracting the bigger mechaniloids, thus leaving their smaller brethren easy prey for the rest of the group.
"Commander Bish?" Asks Harpuia, his tone even.
"Over here!" Comes the answer. The captain is kneeling in front of a reploid with severe burns across his face and upper arms. The vision shift an inch to the left, before Harpuia adresses the captain.
There should be a medical kit on the helicopter. And the captain is in contact with a medical operator. And, he is still holding the reploid. You have read about reploids surviving worse, that explorer can make it. You hope.
"Direct your troops towards the helicopter, we are covering you!" Harpuia glances at his right, then back towards the captain.
"What about the big ones? That piece of metal is just on their line of sight, we won't make it far!" A lot of anger can be heard on the captain's voice.
"General Aztec Falcon will distract them." There's another explosion at the distance, and blue projectiles can be seen parting from different directions in the sky towards the ground. "Hurry up, there's another team needing our forces right now"
"What! Another team-"
"Commander!" Interrupts Harpuia, using his gun to keep 2 roach-like mechaniloids away.
"Right. Team, move towards the helicopter!" Yells the Captain, already dragging the other reploid "we are getting outta here, hurry up!"
At that, the explorers start to retreat. With the number of smaller mechaniloids greatly reduced, and the bigger ones getting systematically destroyed by Falcon, getting towards the war helicopter becomes a relatively easy task. 2 mechaniloids try to intercept the first group, but the joined fire of the Rekku troopers and some explorers turns them to pieces before doing any damage.
"Pilot, I need you to move the Jin'en team towards the nearest base. They should be all inside by now"
The pilot turns towards Harpuia, incredulity on his face.
"This is way over this engine's capacity. I don't think we will get far on such conditions"
"Then fly away from this horde and land where you consider. We will pick you up later."
"What about you and the General?" From Harpuia's angle of vision, you can see the pilot already preparing to fly. "The closest base is beyond range, even for the General!"
"We won't go tow-"
...
"Link established. Captain of explorer team 15 of the Jin'en Army on the line."
Finally. Given the position of team 15, and the fact that they are completely surrounded by anti-air heavy mechaniloids, an extraction won't be possible for now. Which leaves holding in the only viable strategy, at least until the rest of the troops arrive.
Still, letting them know what kind of help is arriving can only be useful, and said help should be arriving soon.
Focusing on the second helicopter's transmission, you can see how has the battle transcurred.
The Rekku forces have continued harassing the bigger machines, even taking out one in the process.
Not without cost, however, as it would appear a Rekku flying trooper was shot down by one of the mechaniloids.
And the noose tightens around the defenders all the while.
"Explorer Craft, do you hear me?"
"Loud and clear. Glad to know our distress signal was picked up." The leader of the group comments, tense but not outright panicking.
"I need you to keep your ground and hold a little more! Troops from the Jin'en, Zan'ei and Rekku armies are all aproaching your position, coming from south and south-east."
"I see. We are not suited to wage prolonged fights, but we are rather low of options..." Craft stops for a moment. "Although, if you could set a li..... .... .. . .. ..copter to ...ke o.. . .... ....."
"Say again, there is noi-"
"Transmission lost" The voice of the virtual network assistant is as sweet as you are frustrated. And that voice is very sweet and soothing.
While the system tries to set a transmission between the battle helicopter and the explorer captain, you take a moment to see the battle unfold.
The mechaniloids keep advancing, and the explorers keep trying to maintain them at bay. There's a heavy exchange of fire between both forces, resulting in several destroyed machines and one downed explorer.
On the right side of the battlefield, one explorer jumps toward 2 isolated mechaniloids, impaling one and sending it crashing towards the other.
He then covers his retreat with mortar fire, destroying several other war machines in the process. A Rekku trooper close by sweeps down and fires upon a close-by group, damaging them and leaving them exposed to missile fire from the explorer reploid.
The mechaniloids keep advancing.
A group of heavy mechaniloids approaches the group. One explorer in the northern barricade tries to peek, when at least 3 energy balls impact her in the exposed head. The other members drag her to cover, but the amount of fire doesn't allow them to do much while the heavy mechs eat away at the defenses inch by inch.
After several minutes, you manage to link the battle helicopter to the team leader, but with the anti-air units that close there's little said helicopter can do. Nothing else to do now but watch the conflict unfold.
Then, one of the scorpioroids explodes. 3 other aim their tail-guns towards the new assailant, and a group of smaller combatants turn to face the new challengers.
The group of small mechaniloids also explodes, their blazing fragments penetrating enemy machines tens of meters away.
The Jin'en forces are here, and they brought a tank.
What follows is a classic example of a heroic entrance. While the tank shoots at the bigger machines, sending them flying in pieces one at a time, the ground troops disembark from the transports and finish off any stray hostile on the southern side.
Six Jin'en troopers stay behind to clean up and cover the rear, while another 8 meet with the remaining explorer members. Among them, striding with confidence and purpose is Anubis Necromancess, general of the Jin'en army and practicer of ancient arts.
And at his side, striving to contain his glee marches Fighting Fefnir, holding an strange, maw-like weapon in his hands.
"So, are we ready to crush their sorry buts?"
"Patience, my pupil" with a hand gesture, Necromancess sends the troops towards the covers, to reinforce the depleted explorers.
"First I must ensure your continued existence, as you are a brilliant but young star" He looks towards a group of explorers.
"You can stop doing that. She is no longer among the living. And as for your place, on my signal and not before you will fire that weapon against our foes. Nothing like the battlefield to truly judge an instrument of war"
Fefnir looks at the downed explorer, down at his weapon and then at the phalanx of heavy mechaniloids in front.
"They will pay for what they did!"
With one gesture of Anubis' scepter, the ground begins to tremble. Dead hands, bare pistons exposed rise from the dry earth. Those skeletal soldiers pull themselves out and stand, only to receive the massed fire of the hostile machines.
But for one that falls another one rises, gaining ground each step. A dozen smaller machines and 4 bigger ones get bogged down against 5 skeletal constructs, their simple though processes impeding them to figure a strategy against a respawning foe.
On the distance, an armored transport passed by, running over any unfortunate robot on its way. At the left side of the battlefield a Jin'en soldier receives a couple shots on his side and is forced to retreat, while further south an explorer launches a laser shot against a tall beetle-like machine.
"Immolate them!" Howls Necromancess, seeing that the enemy troops are close enough for his plan to work.
You can see Fefnir fumbling with his (new, you assume) weapon for a second, before finding the trigger and firing.
A fireball as big as yourself forms out of the barrel, traveling like a bright comet before impacting against a mechaniloid. Then a deflagration envelopes a good portion of the group, setting aflame those that survived the initial blast.
There's no time to recover however, as smaller but still very lethal fire orbs fly towards survivors who suddenly find themselves driven towards the inferno by tall pillars of dirt and sand.
But in spite of all the enemy troops keep advancing, and with them the golem.
All but the northern side of the field has been secured. There's still 7 big mechaniloids and almost 30 small ones approaching, but with the arrival of the Jin'en and now the Rekku shuttle the siege is all but done.
And the Zan'ei intend to fix the Golem issue.
The Jin'en armored transport stops north to the main battle and behind the golem. The concentration of enemy mechaniloids is higher than normal in this territory, even if the bulk of the forces focused on the explorer team.
Some burst of fire keep the boldest machines away, while the 4 Zan'ei operatives discuss their attack plan.
"Mmm, the golem keeps company at hand it seems. Phantom, please remind me the steps to face such foes?" In spite of the casual tone, you can see though phantom's camera a deep focus on Hanumachine's eyes.
"Yes, master. One must first study the situation. One must then isolate the target. Then, and if the opportunity present itself, one must engage!"
"Kraken taught you well the theory, but there's one step you are missing" the doors of the transport open, while the other 2 Zan'ei agents run towards their targets.
"One must win of course, bringing pride to the army and neo arcadia in the process" Hanumachine jumps out of the vehicle. "See that mechaniloid? Ensure it doesn't come to aid the golem. I'll face him when the moment arises"
Phantom nods, and parts to accomplish his orders. Making the mechaniloid stray from his place results an easy task, as Phantom evades the plasma spheres and keeps close enough to tempt the beetle-like robot to come forward and test his look with its claws.
Step by step, the mechaniloid and the golem get separated further and further. Phantom them draws a oddly-shaped blade and throws it at the optics, enraging the machine and distracting it the instant it takes the reploid to close the distance and strike.
At this instant the machine received 2 hits. One comes from Phantom, putting a dagger inside a turbine and taking the foe's ability to fly. The other comes by a monkey-shaped reploid general, smoke coming from his chest and a white-hot mark on his armor.
"Change of plans." Hanumachine punches the beetle-machine, perforating the carapace and burning his insides. "Since this foe is done for, you will assist me in taking down the golem"
I think this may be the longest chapter yet. I haven't counted, but that's my suspicion. And it would seem I need to seriously streamline the battle "calculations", it becomes frustrating to do anything otherwise. As good as paint can be as a battle simulator, I need to figure out simpler rules.
On more relevant news, 2 things. The first is, whatever you choose will end the battle in the next turn so choose carefully. The second is I'm going to take a couple weeks of vacations from this quest, to catch up on unread quests and wait until my internet gets fixed (preferably not in that order). Maybe I can make an omake later, to see what everyone else is doing/has been doing. That doesn't mean I won't answer questions (as long as my internet allows it), just that instead of procastinating after the votes I'll do it before the votes.
Oh, as a battle comment, this time I used a coin to decide what team got against what horde. Had you been unluckier, 7 basic troops would have faced the 100+ force, instead of 13 basic troops and someone clearly above basic troop.
Comments, questions and corrections are appreciated and welcomed, as usual.
