Super Robot Quest G
- Thread starter Basarin
- Start date
- Original Sci-Fi
March, Year Four - Defense Force Rolls
- Location
- USA
(QM NOTE: Some of the dice rolls were showing up as errors, weirdly. A quick refresh was able to fix that, but I had to update the hyperlinks - they should be showing the actual rolls now)
Haruko Sasaki
- Liaison (Fulgur): 5, 4, 6
- Liaison (GSDF): 1, 2, 4
Sasaki's visit to Major Jenkins and the Fulgur Team goes quite smoothly, especially since she comes bearing gifts. Neer and Schemming are positively manic about the potential for the Pterawing sample, while Forge is quietly intrigued by the Orion Booster. Sasaki also gets a closer look at the pilots who volunteered for the job - right as they're being tapped for their very first mission.
And she's been given a front row seat invitation to observe.
Her visit to General Li, on the other hand, is a bit less productive. His main complaint is that right as the playing field was leveled, he is already starting to run into new and dangerous ways the Westphalians are trying to murder his forces - and he's been hearing similar complaints from his peer commanders in adjacent District Commands. He doesn't have any requests for the Centurions per se - but he does have a potential problem that he needs solving, if the DFRI are willing to lend unofficial help. [New Deployment Option Unlocked]
Diana
- Reaction Force Monitoring (Kaiju): 1, 6, 4
- Reaction Force Monitoring (Westphalians): 1, 1, 3
Diana's month has been very mixed. Further digging into the kaiju infiltrator reports reveals a disturbing note - there appears to be scattered reports of a 'leader' type coordinating the strikes. No further information is available, as there are precious few eye witness accounts as it is. And they seem to be going after weapons depots and manufacturing plants specifically. No clue if it's the same one you encountered at the Yukimura Institute, however.
The Westphalians, on the other hand, are eerily quiet outside of hit and run attacks. Diana has been able to compile more consistent reports of newly fielded equipment, both from various EUDF formations, but also from MSS's own reports submitted as part of their legal requirements for operating under contract. But no new developments - are they lying low after you cleared the oil rig?
Adrianna
- Reaction Force Monitoring (Additional Threats): 5, 3, 5
- Liaison (Legio Galbinus): 3, 5, 5 (Seriously? Alrighty then)
It turns out that if you put someone who's incredibly nosy into monitoring details and with a vague focus statement, they're liable to come up with something. Adrianna decided that the previous reports from the FRC on organized criminal networks utilizing configuration-capable vehicles was worth pursuing - and she found more than she had expected to.
And given that she was the one who discovered the mystery warship on approach, Adrianna was given the honor to approach Galbinus about it. You just wish she had more of a subtle way to ask, but that's just not how Adrianna does things. Probably for the best in this case - but now you have more understandings of Mekaen politicking than you ever wanted to, and a rough idea of what to expect when it arrives.
-<<Deployment>>
--Escort-Oil Rig Cleanup
---With SCR-01 Beowulf & Ocular
--Rapid Response - Westphalians
---Thunderbolt, Ichiro Banner, 1st Golem Wing Seekers, 3rd Reconnaissance Jackals, Pegasus
--Rapid Response - Kaiju
---Perseus, 1st Experimental Support Wing V-33s, 9th Armored Reconissance Phalanxes, Sleipnir
-<<Defense>>
--Captain Haruko Sasaki
---Liaison: Major Lenora Jenkins/Fulgur
----Tech Trade using Cape and Orion Booster.
---Liaison: General Li/GDF
----How are the Centurions Doing and is there anything else that needs to be done.
--DFAI-01 'Diana'
---Reaction Force Reports: Kaiju
---Reaction Force Reports: Westphalians
--DFAI-02 'Adrianna'
---Liaison: Galbinus-R/Legio Galbinus
----Theres a New Warship that appeared in the System got any idea what it is?
---Reaction Force Monitoring: Additional Threats
--Escort-Oil Rig Cleanup
---With SCR-01 Beowulf & Ocular
--Rapid Response - Westphalians
---Thunderbolt, Ichiro Banner, 1st Golem Wing Seekers, 3rd Reconnaissance Jackals, Pegasus
--Rapid Response - Kaiju
---Perseus, 1st Experimental Support Wing V-33s, 9th Armored Reconissance Phalanxes, Sleipnir
-<<Defense>>
--Captain Haruko Sasaki
---Liaison: Major Lenora Jenkins/Fulgur
----Tech Trade using Cape and Orion Booster.
---Liaison: General Li/GDF
----How are the Centurions Doing and is there anything else that needs to be done.
--DFAI-01 'Diana'
---Reaction Force Reports: Kaiju
---Reaction Force Reports: Westphalians
--DFAI-02 'Adrianna'
---Liaison: Galbinus-R/Legio Galbinus
----Theres a New Warship that appeared in the System got any idea what it is?
---Reaction Force Monitoring: Additional Threats
Haruko Sasaki
- Liaison (Fulgur): 5, 4, 6
- Liaison (GSDF): 1, 2, 4
Sasaki's visit to Major Jenkins and the Fulgur Team goes quite smoothly, especially since she comes bearing gifts. Neer and Schemming are positively manic about the potential for the Pterawing sample, while Forge is quietly intrigued by the Orion Booster. Sasaki also gets a closer look at the pilots who volunteered for the job - right as they're being tapped for their very first mission.
And she's been given a front row seat invitation to observe.
Her visit to General Li, on the other hand, is a bit less productive. His main complaint is that right as the playing field was leveled, he is already starting to run into new and dangerous ways the Westphalians are trying to murder his forces - and he's been hearing similar complaints from his peer commanders in adjacent District Commands. He doesn't have any requests for the Centurions per se - but he does have a potential problem that he needs solving, if the DFRI are willing to lend unofficial help. [New Deployment Option Unlocked]
Diana
- Reaction Force Monitoring (Kaiju): 1, 6, 4
- Reaction Force Monitoring (Westphalians): 1, 1, 3
Diana's month has been very mixed. Further digging into the kaiju infiltrator reports reveals a disturbing note - there appears to be scattered reports of a 'leader' type coordinating the strikes. No further information is available, as there are precious few eye witness accounts as it is. And they seem to be going after weapons depots and manufacturing plants specifically. No clue if it's the same one you encountered at the Yukimura Institute, however.
The Westphalians, on the other hand, are eerily quiet outside of hit and run attacks. Diana has been able to compile more consistent reports of newly fielded equipment, both from various EUDF formations, but also from MSS's own reports submitted as part of their legal requirements for operating under contract. But no new developments - are they lying low after you cleared the oil rig?
Adrianna
- Reaction Force Monitoring (Additional Threats): 5, 3, 5
- Liaison (Legio Galbinus): 3, 5, 5 (Seriously? Alrighty then)
It turns out that if you put someone who's incredibly nosy into monitoring details and with a vague focus statement, they're liable to come up with something. Adrianna decided that the previous reports from the FRC on organized criminal networks utilizing configuration-capable vehicles was worth pursuing - and she found more than she had expected to.
And given that she was the one who discovered the mystery warship on approach, Adrianna was given the honor to approach Galbinus about it. You just wish she had more of a subtle way to ask, but that's just not how Adrianna does things. Probably for the best in this case - but now you have more understandings of Mekaen politicking than you ever wanted to, and a rough idea of what to expect when it arrives.
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- Location
- Queensland, Australia
Kaiju was find, we got the 'crit' on that. Westphalian was miserable though yeah, and I'm unsure if the 4 in GSDF gives us anything special or just a standard 'here's something which may or may not work out' result.
Thors_Alumni
Proud member of Thors Class VII from Liberl
- Location
- Liberl Zemuria.
Next turn, we need to deal with this. I've always been able to tell when something is going to go bad in one way or another and this one is telling me that it's a hell of a lot more serious they think it is. I'll wait until Basarin gives more details but For now I think we need to make this op a priority mission.
The more information we have on the approuching Makean Inquisitor the better. Galbinus can help with that and provide ways to get this mech on our side. I really don't want to have to fight him. Hopefully the inquisitor will be willing to listen before he attempts to arrest Galbinus and team.
As for our home grown Mekean look a like's, That's going to be a whole different can of worms for him. not to mention configuration and so on.
Take your time, no need to rush.I really should stop trying to put firm deadlines on my posts. Post is about sixty percent done at this rate - I just haven't had a chance to actually sit down uninterrupted to work on this, even on my supposed days off. Apologies all.
Patience will be paid off well.
Thors_Alumni
Proud member of Thors Class VII from Liberl
- Location
- Liberl Zemuria.
No worries Basarin. We're fine with waiting. Take your time.
One of these days, I hope the next Super Robot we develop is pretty much full Biobot. Just shove as much K-Class material into a vaguely humanoid shape as we can. If that's infeasible, I would at least like something that looks like something from Aura Battler DunbIne.
Ace of Scarabs
Mechanoid Pilot
- Location
- Singapore
Ah, a plotline as old as the Braves. One of the Braves who made it into SRW had that exact plotline lol.personally, I'm not hoping our next robot is a Biobot.
Personally, I'm hoping Sheol makes a kaiju impersonator of our Super Robots so perfect it even grows a super AI with a heart of Justice and joins the good guys
Theunderbolt
"Prepare for trouble..."
- Location
- USoA
personally, I'm not hoping our next robot is a Biobot.
Personally, I'm hoping Sheol makes a kaiju impersonator of our Super Robots so perfect it even grows a super AI with a heart of Justice and joins the good guys
Black Mightgaine? What are you doing here?
Birthday
Have a Happy One!
- Location
- Somewhere
Okay, is it just me, or does this show give off huge early Super Robot Quest vibes?
View: https://youtu.be/Aw_k_3NkfXI?si=sqxAsjaHMXRvT-jh
View: https://youtu.be/Aw_k_3NkfXI?si=sqxAsjaHMXRvT-jh
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Theunderbolt
"Prepare for trouble..."
- Location
- USoA
Devin, is going to need a lot more coffee to deal with someone like Bravern.
- Location
- Queensland, Australia
Unfortunately there's no longer any coffee left on the base. Someone showed the resident Mad Scientists and Maverick Engineers that stuff first and they seized it all in the name of Discovery, Progress and SCIENCE! (Science!) much to the collapse of all other departments.
That is not to say there isn't any Coffee-like Substances on base. Not all the seized coffee was consumed, some had Experimentation! occur to it. Apparently one of the naval officers on-base was heard declaring in sync with someone from the medical staff that "That... That thing is not coffee!" so we are very unsure what exactly it is if even those two groups hold that opinion.
- Location
- Singapore
I thought he already does with The Regency of Varulne?
- Location
- USA
Someone had brought this to my attention a few weeks ago - I still need to actually watch it for myself to see how it holds up.
This current crazy period of work has drawn down a bit, so I'm going to finish the Defense Force post and have it up this week. Fingers crossed!
Hope everyone's been well recently.
This current crazy period of work has drawn down a bit, so I'm going to finish the Defense Force post and have it up this week. Fingers crossed!
Hope everyone's been well recently.
March, Year Four - Defense Force Results
- Location
- USA
Deployments
Deployment: Escort Oil Rig Cleanup
It's not often that you find Anna Smith, or the Intelligence Services, focused so intently on a particular objective – but then again, you've never really had reason to see more of what they do. And honestly, for all parties involved, that's probably for the best. You have enough headaches of your own swimming in and out of your capabilities of dealing with, and you don't need to be liable for more.
So you send Anna your best. 1LT Richard Callaghan –if he isn't on track to be promoted a rank before long, he will be after everything he's managed to accomplish – and the Beowulf, including all of its combiner components, are loaded up onto the Pegasus. He offers little in terms of providing extra analysis, but there's fewer people – and Super Robot pilots – out there who you'd rather have in your corner in the event of a fight.
That's why you're sending someone with him for that analysis. With Ocular in tow, you'll get a decent idea of any other surprises the Westphalians have come up with. Though hopefully it doesn't involve yet another god-forsaken teleportation incident. Hopefully you'll get some answers. But in this line of work, you're probably going to get just as many new questions.
You wonder sometimes what Galbinus makes of the crazy technologies that Sheol and the separatists had come up with – and if it would make him, or anyone else from Mekaen, concerned.
Rapid Responses
Rapid Response – Westphalians
It's more than a little overkill – but after what you've found out about Westphalian capabilities, you're feeling justified in sending out the rest of your heavy hitters out. Yes, you've sent out just about everyone out into the field. Really, the only combatants that are staying at home are the Seeker Wing and the Argonauts, and that's mostly to make sure they're repaired. You're not worried about anyone trying to make a grab at your compound per se, but there's no reason to invite trouble, so they're staying behind.
So after some prodding, Diana and Sasaki conclude that sending your rapid response to the European District would be counterproductive at the moment. Valiant already has that well in hand for the most part. But there's been more than a few inroads being built in the North American District, according to what few notes Anna's managed to send your way in between her frazzled focus on the oil rig and the technology therein. It's likely that some infrastructure is in place, just possibly enough to launch some kind of terror attack somewhere in the continental United States.
So you're sending out a big strike force out on a not especially advertised patrol, in order to head off any potential intimidation-by-giant-robots events.
Ichiro and Jessica are both loaded onto the Pegasus, full of confidence and vigor having been properly blooded in combat now. The Jackals of the 3rd Reconnaissance are loaded as well – though amusingly, due to how cramped it's starting to get in the hold, they all have to be loaded like a car park in truck mode, leading to more than a few jokes about being transported like a car dealership.
The 1st Golem Wing. The Golems have barely had any time to acclimate to being around people, but all the same they're being thrown into their first dose of combat. Everything is just new about them that there's a bit of uncertainty about how well they'll perform, how they'll hold up under pressure. But at least Ichiro is there as the senior Super AI to help them along.
He complained about being labeled that. "I'm not old!" was the official complaint.
Rapid Response – Kaiju
On the other hand, this rapid response is just to try and head off a problem before it becomes a bigger one.
Perseus is heading to the Pacific District in order to take the fight to the kaiju, and you've loaded this fist with as much metal behind it as you could comfortably spare. The Perseus is finally being deployed alongside the Phalanxes of the Third Armored Reconnaissance. You remember once upon a time that it was designed to be leading the Phalanxes, but given how much development has taken place it has more than outgrown your older design ideas for it. The halfway prototypes of the First Experimental Wing are tagging along, in addition to the Sleipnir – which is greeted with all sorts of fanfare by Anthony, who wants to see how well the Zirvitium armor sleeves hold up.
Unlike with the Westphalians, who seem to be lying low, you have a fairly decent idea of where the kaiju infiltrators might be trying to attack. No matter the actual methods involved, George Sheol does not tend to be subtle with his overall strategic aims, especially when Mercury V is involved. World conquest and/or destruction seems to be the overall goal, but it seems he has to pass Mercury before he feels he can actually get to that.
Anna is convinced that if nothing else, perhaps seeing Perseus will trigger a response from the kaiju. Not to the same degree that Mercury V does, but Sheol tends to be a vindictive sort, and Perseus played a fairly pivotal part in ensuring that Mercury wasn't destroyed previously. The thinking goes that there might be enough grudge to go around.
Sasaki
Liaison – Fulgur
Sasaki reports that your gifts to Ground Pound felt like giving children all of their Christmases at once. The Engineers are going mad over the sample technologies you're providing – Albert Schemming in particular has plans for the Pterawing sample, especially once he's able to get Forge to program in its physical structure.
At least, once he can draw him away from the Orion Booster plans. While it's not exactly new technology, dating back to the more experimental parts of the mid twentieth century, it's also not readily accessible. Combined with the raw power output that Zhang continues to be able to draw from the Fulgur Particles, the Engineers suddenly have a lot more power and options to play around with.
This is especially noticeable with Victor Forge's nanomachines. It requires some programming ahead of time, but in theory, there is nothing stopping the Fulgur Team from fabricating the Wings or the Orion Booster on the spot. Before, power and mass were the main obstacles – and over the course of a few months, courtesy of your gifts, Anti-Gravity Solution among other things had handily removed the mass issue.
This all comes at a good time – the Fulgur Team is finally being given the opportunity to take on its first mission. Major Jenkins is assured that this will be a low stakes sort of mission – but both she and Sasaki just scoffed with a healthy dose of skepticism. Albeit for different reasons.
"Finally gotten off their arses, have they?" Haruko blinked as she sat in the back corner of the briefing room. Unlike with the Research Institute, the Ground Pound facilities were far more spartan and utilitarian – all of them were inherited from the United States Army, so while they were fit for purpose, there weren't any of the quality of life features she had begun to take for granted either. Quality furniture and functional computer monitors and systems, but that was all.
"Ahh, no need to worry, Smythe." The source of the voice was the man wearing lieutenant's bars on his digital rank badges – apparently Lieutenant Arnold Weller – with hair that had only recently begun to grow back and affecting a somewhat spiky line to it. There was a brash undertone to what was otherwise a steady voice. "We'll take care of it, no problems."
"You say that, sir, but District's got no bloody clue which end is which at times." The more abrasive voice came from Sergeant Vincent Smythe. The older man had blonde hair that seemed on the verge of bleaching into white prematurely, and a prominent scar scratched against his left cheek. "They'll probably keep us here until it's too late to do anything when everything inevitably goes wrong." His face rested on his hand, slouched over on his desk as he was.
The final figure, Sergeant Anya Rodenko, remained quiet – but she seemed to have a calm, unnerving glint to her granite-like eyes as she focused on the briefing slides in front of her. Sasaki had been observing her as well, and as animated as the other two pilots were, the diminutive figure never seemed to make any movement or motion she didn't have to.
"Settle down." Major Jenkins's voice cut through the chatter of the other two pilots. "So, in summary: once Fulgur has had a chance to integrate the new technologies provided by our friends in the DFRI-" She briefly nodded to Haruko, who returned the gesture, before she continued, "-Fulgur will be on standby for quick reaction force duties. The DFRI are doing final cleanup duties on a mission site, and follow on forces are going to be escorting it back to Unity Station. It will be your job to show whoever's stupid enough to stick their noses in what you can do."
"What can't we do?" Smythe laughed. "What're the rest of them for, anyways?"
"To tell everyone else about us." Rodenko's voice was faint, but so incredibly clear. "And set our reputation."
"If they can stomach the nightmares." All three pilots shared some varying degrees of smirks at the thought. Weller's lips spread into a nasty smirk. "What was it this time, fellas? Sank to the core while fully conscious this time."
"Piddling, that. Got sucked out into the vacuum of space while seeing the helmet's glass cracking inwards."
"Paralysis followed by slowly oncoming roadkill by tractor." For some reason, that set off a raucous laugh from all of them – well, an amused huff from Rodenko – even as they filed out of the briefing room, each sharing an apparently worse nightmare to top the others.
Haruko remained quiet as Jenkins approached her – she had never been more thankful that the DFRI's pilots were so normal.
"If anything," Jenkins confided in her, "it would help if you or someone from the DFRI were on hand when the escort duty goes live. The nightmare part alone is going to give us a reputation, alright – probably not anything good, and performance be damned."
"I will pass it along." Haruko replied. "Are…are they alright?"
"Probably not," Jenkins admitted. "But it's their way to cope with the strain. A little bit of gallows humor never killed anyone."
Results: New Liaison Option Unlocked Next Turn
Liaison: EUGDF
"He has a job for us."
Sasaki nods back at you over the holo link. "He does, sir."
"Did he even pay attention to our other notes?" you ask incredulously.
"He did – quite in depth, I might add." Your executive officer pinches the bridge of her nose in exhaustion. "In short – the Centurions, while they are performing admirably and to expectations, are running into the enemy's adaptations."
A new window opens – and you see the weather-beaten face of General Li as he's speaking to Sasaki. "He insisted I record this for you," she adds dryly.
"-and mobility's becoming a growing concern, because some of the Westphalian cells are starting to roll out what looks like a small mecha with wheel-skates under their boots." There's a pause, before he continues, the recorded version of him grabbing at his graying hair, "Yes, I know exactly what I said. Damage itself isn't exactly an issue, but the Westphalians deploy these in numbers, and they're about as mobile as the Jackals, if not more on really level terrain."
The image of the somewhat squat, angular, and yet incredibly mobile Westphalian mecha displays on another window. The center piece is shown slamming with its free hand what looks to be a magnetic shaped charge of some sort, while the other is holding repurposed vehicle support weapons. And, on closer inspection, it does look like they're moving on wheels embedded right below their feet.
"They're pretty smart about it too – honestly it's like they're using light infantry tactics but for piloted robots," Li's voice continues. "Good news is that we're not running into that many of them yet, but I don't expect that happy state of affairs to last. I have our Jackals filling the counter role of screening forces, but there's teething problems – I'm just glad that we're not running into the urban killboxes the other generals have been mentioning-"
"He goes on like this for awhile, sir," Sasaki sighs. "I will skip ahead."
"-I normally don't ask for these sorts of things, but I really don't have the forces to spare for this one. I've had some maneuver elements run into skirmishes against the separatists near some of the decommissioned factory zones. None of my scouts can confirm what's in there – one insisted there's armored tanks, another swears on their combined faiths that it's enemy aviation. Whatever is in there hasn't made any outward moves, and I don't have the manpower to spare for it. If you can take care of this for me – well, after that, let's talk about how I can repay the favor to you."
You and Sasaki look at each other. "I think that's probably the most frantic mission brief I've ever had," you comment. "He doesn't ask for much, does he?"
"No, sir. But it should be doable – we will just have to see where we're at by the end of the month."
Results: New Deployment Action Unlocked
Diana
Reaction Force Reports – Kaiju
The reason you and your staff are somewhat confident on where to send Perseus and company is what Diana has been able to glimpse in between EUDF reports. The infiltrators have been far more active as of late – though you're wondering if 'infiltrators' is the right word to use for this group. 'Militants' might be better given what you're learning.
Whatever they are, the infiltrators have been launching organized raids against EUDF and JSDF installations. The source of their targets are pretty obvious too – the targets tend to be weapons depots, decommissioning yards, and maintenance facilities. The reports are focusing overwhelmingly on how the converted kaiju humanoids have enough to outfit themselves in a roughly similar manner to light infantry formations.
Logistics: Diana, thankfully, knows you well enough by now to also forward you the property loss documents. And it's painting an even more pessimistic picture than the official line. Heavy trucks, Buckler IFVs, even Jackals earmarked for decommissioning due to faulty manufacturing, have been noted as lost or missing.
Above all, though, there's also note of another 'officer' type, similar to the one encountered at the Yukimura Institute. There's almost no further details, except for the fact that there seems to be one particular figure who seems to be coordinating these strikes as they're taking place. Until you actually face them head to head, however, you won't know any other details.
So you're hoping that your best guess on the next target is correct. The real prize in Japan to strike at would be Sagami Depot. If Diana's right, whoever is leading this force is mostly on a smash and grab run trying to bring equipment levels up to some nominal standard rather than outright conquest.
Hopefully, Perseus can persuade them on how bad of an idea this is.
Reaction Force Reports – Westphalians
On the other hand, the Westphalians have been eerily quiet. Outside of hit and run attacks, and the headaches that General Li mentioned to Sasaki, there's been very little to report. It makes you wonder if attacking that oil rig revealed something that forced some kind of reorganization or reassessment on their part.
So in lieu of any active threats requiring attention, Diana focuses on reports of recently fielded equipment.
The majority of the reports focus on the new 'light infantry' mecha that General Li highlighted. They're new enough that they don't even have a designation or nickname just yet. Small, squat, and boxy mecha, they're nonetheless apparently quite fast and agile. While capable of standard bipedal motion, their most notable trait is the fact that they have either treads, wheels or hover jets (depending on who is reporting) that allows them to move forward at incredible speeds. The only downside to this is that their ability to turn or make sharp corners is not really possible at said speeds, so they do need to slow down.
They otherwise work as advertised – they seem to operate in sections of three to five, and operate like giant sized light urban fire teams.
Logistics – And it doesn't escape your notice that they're far more uniform than before. Unlike the knockoff Jackals, or even the Tank-Mobiles, you could believe that whatever workshops spawned them might actually have replacement parts that work for them. Unfortunately for you, it seems that the Red King can learn lessons – and like any other organization, they're adapting new ideas and equipment to meet new challenges. You're wondering if the introduction of new designs to the EUDF forced a crash course development phase, similar to what Brigadier Peters had you undertake when you started.
For now, however, there's nothing else to report.
Adrianna
Reaction Force Monitoring – Additional Threats
Adrianna, on the other hand, decided to focus on what she did best – being nosy.
The FRC's feedback last month about mecha-based crime was something that Adrianna grew fascinated with. So in going in to investigate, she was curious – surely it wasn't that bad, was it?
As it turns out, no. It's a little worse.
While this seems to be somewhat spread thin around the globe, the North American District seems to be particularly rife with criminals who seem to be able to acquire a worrying amount of Jackals. Part of the problem is the fact that Lone Star Industries – one of the main producers of the Jackals based around Texas and New Mexico – is becoming a favorite target of robberies and hijackings.
It apparently started with just a handful of early generation Jackals, but these criminals clearly have access to workshops capable of changing at least the outlines of the Jackals. Now, similarly to what the kaiju were doing in the East Asia District, they are rather fond of attacking decommissioning yards.
Adrianna estimates that given enough time, 'We'll have Westphalian style mish-mash-monsters knocking over fuel stations and convenience stores.'
That does give you some food for thought, though. You're already stretched very, very thinly, and dedicating time and resources for what should be a law enforcement matter, is not feasible. But what if you could empower the FRC to handle it…?
Results: New Liaison Option Unlocked
Liaison – Legio Galbinus
"So…was this a bad time to ask?"
Galbinus stared back at the sheepish looking Oracle Matrix scratching the back of her head as the firefight around them intensified. He barely noticed the blastwave billowing around them, or how Hotwire's hardlight barrier cut it off abruptly.
"Um…you…okay in there?"
"Adri." Delphi's avatar appeared beside Galbinus's head as two digits rose to pinch the bridge of his nose, his optics dimming as he held off what the humans might call a 'head ache.' "This might have been an awkward time for it, yeah."
Galbinu sighed. "It would explain why the Free Brothers seem so interested in that communications tower."
Continued in Interlude
Deployment: Escort Oil Rig Cleanup
It's not often that you find Anna Smith, or the Intelligence Services, focused so intently on a particular objective – but then again, you've never really had reason to see more of what they do. And honestly, for all parties involved, that's probably for the best. You have enough headaches of your own swimming in and out of your capabilities of dealing with, and you don't need to be liable for more.
So you send Anna your best. 1LT Richard Callaghan –if he isn't on track to be promoted a rank before long, he will be after everything he's managed to accomplish – and the Beowulf, including all of its combiner components, are loaded up onto the Pegasus. He offers little in terms of providing extra analysis, but there's fewer people – and Super Robot pilots – out there who you'd rather have in your corner in the event of a fight.
That's why you're sending someone with him for that analysis. With Ocular in tow, you'll get a decent idea of any other surprises the Westphalians have come up with. Though hopefully it doesn't involve yet another god-forsaken teleportation incident. Hopefully you'll get some answers. But in this line of work, you're probably going to get just as many new questions.
You wonder sometimes what Galbinus makes of the crazy technologies that Sheol and the separatists had come up with – and if it would make him, or anyone else from Mekaen, concerned.
Rapid Responses
Rapid Response – Westphalians
It's more than a little overkill – but after what you've found out about Westphalian capabilities, you're feeling justified in sending out the rest of your heavy hitters out. Yes, you've sent out just about everyone out into the field. Really, the only combatants that are staying at home are the Seeker Wing and the Argonauts, and that's mostly to make sure they're repaired. You're not worried about anyone trying to make a grab at your compound per se, but there's no reason to invite trouble, so they're staying behind.
So after some prodding, Diana and Sasaki conclude that sending your rapid response to the European District would be counterproductive at the moment. Valiant already has that well in hand for the most part. But there's been more than a few inroads being built in the North American District, according to what few notes Anna's managed to send your way in between her frazzled focus on the oil rig and the technology therein. It's likely that some infrastructure is in place, just possibly enough to launch some kind of terror attack somewhere in the continental United States.
So you're sending out a big strike force out on a not especially advertised patrol, in order to head off any potential intimidation-by-giant-robots events.
Ichiro and Jessica are both loaded onto the Pegasus, full of confidence and vigor having been properly blooded in combat now. The Jackals of the 3rd Reconnaissance are loaded as well – though amusingly, due to how cramped it's starting to get in the hold, they all have to be loaded like a car park in truck mode, leading to more than a few jokes about being transported like a car dealership.
The 1st Golem Wing. The Golems have barely had any time to acclimate to being around people, but all the same they're being thrown into their first dose of combat. Everything is just new about them that there's a bit of uncertainty about how well they'll perform, how they'll hold up under pressure. But at least Ichiro is there as the senior Super AI to help them along.
He complained about being labeled that. "I'm not old!" was the official complaint.
Rapid Response – Kaiju
On the other hand, this rapid response is just to try and head off a problem before it becomes a bigger one.
Perseus is heading to the Pacific District in order to take the fight to the kaiju, and you've loaded this fist with as much metal behind it as you could comfortably spare. The Perseus is finally being deployed alongside the Phalanxes of the Third Armored Reconnaissance. You remember once upon a time that it was designed to be leading the Phalanxes, but given how much development has taken place it has more than outgrown your older design ideas for it. The halfway prototypes of the First Experimental Wing are tagging along, in addition to the Sleipnir – which is greeted with all sorts of fanfare by Anthony, who wants to see how well the Zirvitium armor sleeves hold up.
Unlike with the Westphalians, who seem to be lying low, you have a fairly decent idea of where the kaiju infiltrators might be trying to attack. No matter the actual methods involved, George Sheol does not tend to be subtle with his overall strategic aims, especially when Mercury V is involved. World conquest and/or destruction seems to be the overall goal, but it seems he has to pass Mercury before he feels he can actually get to that.
Anna is convinced that if nothing else, perhaps seeing Perseus will trigger a response from the kaiju. Not to the same degree that Mercury V does, but Sheol tends to be a vindictive sort, and Perseus played a fairly pivotal part in ensuring that Mercury wasn't destroyed previously. The thinking goes that there might be enough grudge to go around.
Sasaki
Liaison – Fulgur
Sasaki reports that your gifts to Ground Pound felt like giving children all of their Christmases at once. The Engineers are going mad over the sample technologies you're providing – Albert Schemming in particular has plans for the Pterawing sample, especially once he's able to get Forge to program in its physical structure.
At least, once he can draw him away from the Orion Booster plans. While it's not exactly new technology, dating back to the more experimental parts of the mid twentieth century, it's also not readily accessible. Combined with the raw power output that Zhang continues to be able to draw from the Fulgur Particles, the Engineers suddenly have a lot more power and options to play around with.
This is especially noticeable with Victor Forge's nanomachines. It requires some programming ahead of time, but in theory, there is nothing stopping the Fulgur Team from fabricating the Wings or the Orion Booster on the spot. Before, power and mass were the main obstacles – and over the course of a few months, courtesy of your gifts, Anti-Gravity Solution among other things had handily removed the mass issue.
This all comes at a good time – the Fulgur Team is finally being given the opportunity to take on its first mission. Major Jenkins is assured that this will be a low stakes sort of mission – but both she and Sasaki just scoffed with a healthy dose of skepticism. Albeit for different reasons.
"Finally gotten off their arses, have they?" Haruko blinked as she sat in the back corner of the briefing room. Unlike with the Research Institute, the Ground Pound facilities were far more spartan and utilitarian – all of them were inherited from the United States Army, so while they were fit for purpose, there weren't any of the quality of life features she had begun to take for granted either. Quality furniture and functional computer monitors and systems, but that was all.
"Ahh, no need to worry, Smythe." The source of the voice was the man wearing lieutenant's bars on his digital rank badges – apparently Lieutenant Arnold Weller – with hair that had only recently begun to grow back and affecting a somewhat spiky line to it. There was a brash undertone to what was otherwise a steady voice. "We'll take care of it, no problems."
"You say that, sir, but District's got no bloody clue which end is which at times." The more abrasive voice came from Sergeant Vincent Smythe. The older man had blonde hair that seemed on the verge of bleaching into white prematurely, and a prominent scar scratched against his left cheek. "They'll probably keep us here until it's too late to do anything when everything inevitably goes wrong." His face rested on his hand, slouched over on his desk as he was.
The final figure, Sergeant Anya Rodenko, remained quiet – but she seemed to have a calm, unnerving glint to her granite-like eyes as she focused on the briefing slides in front of her. Sasaki had been observing her as well, and as animated as the other two pilots were, the diminutive figure never seemed to make any movement or motion she didn't have to.
"Settle down." Major Jenkins's voice cut through the chatter of the other two pilots. "So, in summary: once Fulgur has had a chance to integrate the new technologies provided by our friends in the DFRI-" She briefly nodded to Haruko, who returned the gesture, before she continued, "-Fulgur will be on standby for quick reaction force duties. The DFRI are doing final cleanup duties on a mission site, and follow on forces are going to be escorting it back to Unity Station. It will be your job to show whoever's stupid enough to stick their noses in what you can do."
"What can't we do?" Smythe laughed. "What're the rest of them for, anyways?"
"To tell everyone else about us." Rodenko's voice was faint, but so incredibly clear. "And set our reputation."
"If they can stomach the nightmares." All three pilots shared some varying degrees of smirks at the thought. Weller's lips spread into a nasty smirk. "What was it this time, fellas? Sank to the core while fully conscious this time."
"Piddling, that. Got sucked out into the vacuum of space while seeing the helmet's glass cracking inwards."
"Paralysis followed by slowly oncoming roadkill by tractor." For some reason, that set off a raucous laugh from all of them – well, an amused huff from Rodenko – even as they filed out of the briefing room, each sharing an apparently worse nightmare to top the others.
Haruko remained quiet as Jenkins approached her – she had never been more thankful that the DFRI's pilots were so normal.
"If anything," Jenkins confided in her, "it would help if you or someone from the DFRI were on hand when the escort duty goes live. The nightmare part alone is going to give us a reputation, alright – probably not anything good, and performance be damned."
"I will pass it along." Haruko replied. "Are…are they alright?"
"Probably not," Jenkins admitted. "But it's their way to cope with the strain. A little bit of gallows humor never killed anyone."
Results: New Liaison Option Unlocked Next Turn
Liaison: EUGDF
"He has a job for us."
Sasaki nods back at you over the holo link. "He does, sir."
"Did he even pay attention to our other notes?" you ask incredulously.
"He did – quite in depth, I might add." Your executive officer pinches the bridge of her nose in exhaustion. "In short – the Centurions, while they are performing admirably and to expectations, are running into the enemy's adaptations."
A new window opens – and you see the weather-beaten face of General Li as he's speaking to Sasaki. "He insisted I record this for you," she adds dryly.
"-and mobility's becoming a growing concern, because some of the Westphalian cells are starting to roll out what looks like a small mecha with wheel-skates under their boots." There's a pause, before he continues, the recorded version of him grabbing at his graying hair, "Yes, I know exactly what I said. Damage itself isn't exactly an issue, but the Westphalians deploy these in numbers, and they're about as mobile as the Jackals, if not more on really level terrain."
The image of the somewhat squat, angular, and yet incredibly mobile Westphalian mecha displays on another window. The center piece is shown slamming with its free hand what looks to be a magnetic shaped charge of some sort, while the other is holding repurposed vehicle support weapons. And, on closer inspection, it does look like they're moving on wheels embedded right below their feet.
"They're pretty smart about it too – honestly it's like they're using light infantry tactics but for piloted robots," Li's voice continues. "Good news is that we're not running into that many of them yet, but I don't expect that happy state of affairs to last. I have our Jackals filling the counter role of screening forces, but there's teething problems – I'm just glad that we're not running into the urban killboxes the other generals have been mentioning-"
"He goes on like this for awhile, sir," Sasaki sighs. "I will skip ahead."
"-I normally don't ask for these sorts of things, but I really don't have the forces to spare for this one. I've had some maneuver elements run into skirmishes against the separatists near some of the decommissioned factory zones. None of my scouts can confirm what's in there – one insisted there's armored tanks, another swears on their combined faiths that it's enemy aviation. Whatever is in there hasn't made any outward moves, and I don't have the manpower to spare for it. If you can take care of this for me – well, after that, let's talk about how I can repay the favor to you."
You and Sasaki look at each other. "I think that's probably the most frantic mission brief I've ever had," you comment. "He doesn't ask for much, does he?"
"No, sir. But it should be doable – we will just have to see where we're at by the end of the month."
Results: New Deployment Action Unlocked
Diana
Reaction Force Reports – Kaiju
The reason you and your staff are somewhat confident on where to send Perseus and company is what Diana has been able to glimpse in between EUDF reports. The infiltrators have been far more active as of late – though you're wondering if 'infiltrators' is the right word to use for this group. 'Militants' might be better given what you're learning.
Whatever they are, the infiltrators have been launching organized raids against EUDF and JSDF installations. The source of their targets are pretty obvious too – the targets tend to be weapons depots, decommissioning yards, and maintenance facilities. The reports are focusing overwhelmingly on how the converted kaiju humanoids have enough to outfit themselves in a roughly similar manner to light infantry formations.
Logistics: Diana, thankfully, knows you well enough by now to also forward you the property loss documents. And it's painting an even more pessimistic picture than the official line. Heavy trucks, Buckler IFVs, even Jackals earmarked for decommissioning due to faulty manufacturing, have been noted as lost or missing.
Above all, though, there's also note of another 'officer' type, similar to the one encountered at the Yukimura Institute. There's almost no further details, except for the fact that there seems to be one particular figure who seems to be coordinating these strikes as they're taking place. Until you actually face them head to head, however, you won't know any other details.
So you're hoping that your best guess on the next target is correct. The real prize in Japan to strike at would be Sagami Depot. If Diana's right, whoever is leading this force is mostly on a smash and grab run trying to bring equipment levels up to some nominal standard rather than outright conquest.
Hopefully, Perseus can persuade them on how bad of an idea this is.
Reaction Force Reports – Westphalians
On the other hand, the Westphalians have been eerily quiet. Outside of hit and run attacks, and the headaches that General Li mentioned to Sasaki, there's been very little to report. It makes you wonder if attacking that oil rig revealed something that forced some kind of reorganization or reassessment on their part.
So in lieu of any active threats requiring attention, Diana focuses on reports of recently fielded equipment.
The majority of the reports focus on the new 'light infantry' mecha that General Li highlighted. They're new enough that they don't even have a designation or nickname just yet. Small, squat, and boxy mecha, they're nonetheless apparently quite fast and agile. While capable of standard bipedal motion, their most notable trait is the fact that they have either treads, wheels or hover jets (depending on who is reporting) that allows them to move forward at incredible speeds. The only downside to this is that their ability to turn or make sharp corners is not really possible at said speeds, so they do need to slow down.
They otherwise work as advertised – they seem to operate in sections of three to five, and operate like giant sized light urban fire teams.
Logistics – And it doesn't escape your notice that they're far more uniform than before. Unlike the knockoff Jackals, or even the Tank-Mobiles, you could believe that whatever workshops spawned them might actually have replacement parts that work for them. Unfortunately for you, it seems that the Red King can learn lessons – and like any other organization, they're adapting new ideas and equipment to meet new challenges. You're wondering if the introduction of new designs to the EUDF forced a crash course development phase, similar to what Brigadier Peters had you undertake when you started.
For now, however, there's nothing else to report.
Adrianna
Reaction Force Monitoring – Additional Threats
Adrianna, on the other hand, decided to focus on what she did best – being nosy.
The FRC's feedback last month about mecha-based crime was something that Adrianna grew fascinated with. So in going in to investigate, she was curious – surely it wasn't that bad, was it?
As it turns out, no. It's a little worse.
While this seems to be somewhat spread thin around the globe, the North American District seems to be particularly rife with criminals who seem to be able to acquire a worrying amount of Jackals. Part of the problem is the fact that Lone Star Industries – one of the main producers of the Jackals based around Texas and New Mexico – is becoming a favorite target of robberies and hijackings.
It apparently started with just a handful of early generation Jackals, but these criminals clearly have access to workshops capable of changing at least the outlines of the Jackals. Now, similarly to what the kaiju were doing in the East Asia District, they are rather fond of attacking decommissioning yards.
Adrianna estimates that given enough time, 'We'll have Westphalian style mish-mash-monsters knocking over fuel stations and convenience stores.'
That does give you some food for thought, though. You're already stretched very, very thinly, and dedicating time and resources for what should be a law enforcement matter, is not feasible. But what if you could empower the FRC to handle it…?
Results: New Liaison Option Unlocked
Liaison – Legio Galbinus
"So…was this a bad time to ask?"
Galbinus stared back at the sheepish looking Oracle Matrix scratching the back of her head as the firefight around them intensified. He barely noticed the blastwave billowing around them, or how Hotwire's hardlight barrier cut it off abruptly.
"Um…you…okay in there?"
"Adri." Delphi's avatar appeared beside Galbinus's head as two digits rose to pinch the bridge of his nose, his optics dimming as he held off what the humans might call a 'head ache.' "This might have been an awkward time for it, yeah."
Galbinu sighed. "It would explain why the Free Brothers seem so interested in that communications tower."
Continued in Interlude
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chaotic-logic
possible impossibility
- Location
- unknown
or that they are making something similar to the land spinners from code geas
May be time to look at a Jackal refit option, Going Modular early on should help with that. Effectively Going from the Zaku MS-05b to the MS-05Q. IE a Zaku with the same performance as the Zaku II.
- Location
- Singapore
This is now Code Geass. They're fielding Knightmare Frames.
I think we can use this? Since the EUDF is heavily compromised, we can Recruit the Criminals and have them investigate Westphalian & Sheol via the criminal networks.
Make it Anna Smith's problem to run a Mecha Penal Legion/Investigation branch