>If an operation like this is going to succeed, then their will have to be a plan to make it happen.
>First we got to know what exact sorts of defenses you would be dealing with. Asar can ask that.. it would not do to be recaptured by running into a prepared defense. They know what your capable of and would be prepared this time...
>Now to consider tactics, if the priority is to keep captives they already have.. that might be a weakness in of itself. A decoy attack that looks to be aimed at trying to free other Hounds may draw forces away from guarding the manufacturing equipment and provide an opportunity to destroy it. Other tactics could invoke seeing the viability of a stealth approach.. Teth can have such this debated to figure the best approach.
>Finally, the layout of the area. You only saw a portion of it amid your initial escape, and your not winning this war in one move. Will need to find a way in and a way to escape quickly.. Jaster can have this brought up.
Asar looked between the ancient Tommy and her son.
"Defenses?" He asked.
"In addition to the Shade Troopers they'll have access to, they'll have a handful of Aetherlings on hand for monitoring their equipment, Dark Sisterhood members." Jet began. "Outside of those, we can expect Simulacrums, basically autonomous Aether-Tech machines, and possibly either War Beasts or mercenaries to bolster their defenses further." The group nodded in understanding.
"I don't suppose you know the exact composition of what we can expect to encounter?" Teth asked. "We'll need to formulate a plan to get in and do what we need to do."
"Assuming no auxiliaries of Sims or Beasts, most of the defenses will be Shade Troopers of various specializations." Jet explained. "You've already encountered the basic Shade Trooper, but they also have close quarters, heavy weapons, support and officer variants, not counting rarer specialized ones they'll be keeping in reserve. If they do have auxiliaries, the most common we can expect are a mix of ground based bipedal combat support units called Terror Birds as well as aerial Death Shrouds. War Beasts likely means Cosmic Wolves, Rotfire Pheonix's, and Star Lobber Floaters."
"And the Aetherlings?"
"Hard to say, but they will have at least one Jenny in a leadership role, so there's that." Jennies. The Aetherlings most specialized in Aetherworks. Spell casters, in layman's terms. And those in leadership positions tend to be rather powerful in their own right, especially here in the Aether.
"Anything they won't have?" Teth asked.
"Vehicles are highly unlikely. They built their prison with long, narrow corridors and relatively small rooms in order to better box in and slow down escape attempts from back before they figured out their stasis tech." Jet shrugged. "So at least we won't have to fight a Devourer Tank." None of the Hounds present knew what that was, but they decided that in their current weakened states, fighting a tank was not a good idea.
"So, lots of long sightlines and little maneuverability." Jaster summoned up. "Terrific."
"Alright, here's what I suggest." Teth began. "We have a decoy attack on where they are storing our friends, while the real attack is in the control and production systems to deal with that permanently. Or at least for the foreseeable future."
"Well, that's better than no plan, but how are we going to divie up the man power?" Jaster asked. "I don't know if you noticed, big man, but there's only like 4 of us if we count Jet, and the last time we were there, the three of us had to be on the run because these suits are keeping us from doing anything other than punch and kick."
"True, we'll need help." Teth sighed. He looked to Jet. "I don't suppose you know anyone who would be up for helping us?" Jet paused as he gave it some thought.
"Well.....If we need bodies, I know an clan of Tommies who owe me one. But this would be big so they'll demand you three owe them a favor after this is all over, and I don't think I need to tell you how.....Single-minded my mother's younger kin can be." Teth winced. Knowing the average Tommy's wants and needs, they'll be demanding their payment in meat. A lot of it. And actually finding that would be a tall order even back in the Manamon world, as unleashing them was right out of the question.
"Anything else?" He asked.
"I also know an Aetherling Mercenary band, and their prices won't be as singular as a Tommy Pack. But they'll still demand payment." Jet paused. "There is one more option, but I'm hoping to avoid that."
"Let's hear it and then decide." Jaster stated.
"Before the Shade Troopers, long ago, there was another War Dog breed that were sold to the Aether, way way back when the first War Dogs were being made." Jet stated. "They've been in the downturn ever since the Shades came around and took over, but they are still numerically larger than the Shades, and I know they'll be happy for some payback on the 'upstarts'. But the Dread Hounds are also conquerors at heart, and helping them is opening up the potential for them to start up conquests if they succeed here."
Not many good options, but still.
>Suggest something for the Team to do.
>Suggest something for Asar to say/do.
>Suggest something for Teth to say/do.
>Suggest something for Jaster to say/do.
