[X] Keep it working on the Invisible Umbrella (282/500 Condition).
[X] Find Miashei and hang out.
[X] Ask Sochie if she wants to experiment with Pressure while you learn how to perform Psyco-Hijack.
[X] Seek audience with-
--[X] Kihel-as-Dianna.
[X] Keep it working on the Invisible Umbrella (282/500 Condition).
[X] Find Miashei and hang out.
[X] Ask Sochie if she wants to experiment with Pressure while you learn how to perform Psyco-Hijack.
[X] Seek audience with-
--[X] Kihel-as-Dianna.
[X] Keep it working on the Invisible Umbrella (282/500 Condition).
[X] Find Miashei and hang out.
[X] Ask Sochie if she wants to experiment with Pressure while you learn how to perform Psyco-Hijack.
[X] Seek audience with-
--[X] Kihel-as-Dianna.
[X] Keep it working on the Invisible Umbrella (282/500 Condition).
A quick tap of a holographic key keeps the Priority Repair System's focus onto the Invisible Umbrella System.
Roll 1d100 Priority Repair = 59! Invisible Umbrella Condition is now 282+59!
*
[X] Find Miashei and hang out.
Your first act after finishing your escort shift is to find Sochie so you can track down Miashei.
"It's kinda crazy, you know." She airily opines as the three of you watch the waves together. "Week after the next, and this war will have lasted for half a year."
Half a year. Six months since the night the Return began and the White Doll tore itself from the mountain. So much has changed since then. Then again, you muse to yourself as Miashei ribs Sochie over your relationship and presses her for details, some things stay the same.
"Oh yeah, and magic is real!" She elbows you in the side while pointing at the sky. "Can't say I expected that. Are there more of you up there?"
You nod. "The Ghingham Fleet has at least three psychics, that is the term for people like me. Other than that I don't know. I didn't have these powers until I came to Earth, so if there were any I wouldn't know." You are fairly certain that Lieutenant Harry has become strong enough to perform actual Disciplines, but you are not about to out him. Or Sochie for that matter.
Sochie choses this moment to pipe up. "By the way, where is your father? I haven't seen him since Floria."
Miashei shrugs. "He said something about how he didn't want to go anywhere there weren't air for a propeller aircraft to fly, so he is staying behind."
You knew this already but mentioning it must have slipped your mind. Horace on the other hand is coming along with the Borjarnaught, along with many of the other Moonrace defectors. Lord Guin wanted them on hand to work on the ship and the Mass Driver.
The three of chat the hours away.
*
[X] Ask Sochie if she wants to experiment with Pressure while you learn how to perform Psyco-Hijack.
The two ships will not be staying for more than a day in Havana, the capital of Cupa, so you decide to spend your free time learning how to perform Psyco-Hijack from Vestige. The lesson begins with the Psychoframe Ghost telling you of the history of the Discipline.
Psyco-Hijack started out as a trick to disrupt your opponent's use of Psycommu, but its true potential was shown during the brief periods where Bits and Funnels saw use as main weapons. With the user's focus spread out it was a lot easier to subvert each remote weapon separately, turning them against the wielder, and if the enemy got close enough they could just jump into the weapon and shoot the one who killed them.
"I believe you mentioned this before." You comment. "But it raises the question why the White Doll can split into these 'funnels' if they have such a glaring weakness."
Vestige simply nods their head.
A fair observation. Note that I said 'close enough', at long range it became next to impossible to use Psyco-Hijack effectively against a Chorusing bombardment team with Cannon Bits, but those fell out of favor with the advent of the DERB warhead. Furthermore, Kreis' opponent was hardly the kind to use something like Psyco-Control when there were more directly offensive approaches in mind.
But anyway, we are not in space, so the ways in which you can practice are limited, but we will manage. What we will do is…
It takes some improvisation, but eventually you manage to get the hang of it through dueling with Sochie over control of her Qubeley's hand.
Loran has learned Psyco-Hijack! Great Progress on Loran and Sochie's NT Development.
*
[X] Seek audience with-
--[X] Kihel-as-Dianna.
There isn't enough room in the Almaiya's hangar for the White Doll, so you and Sochie end up detaching its head and flying it over to the turtle-shaped battleship. You have an appointment, so you are allowed entry with a minimum of fuss.
Kihel-as-Dianna, who is flanked by the Lieutenant, dismisses the other members of the Royal Guard upon your entry into the secondary bridge that serves as her meeting room. Once they are gone she relaxes, and the two sisters are reunited after several months apart.
Lieutenant Harry, who is feeling some very inappropriate things towards Kihel-as-Dianna, is definitively stronger when it comes to Pressure compared to the last time you got a good feel for him. If you had to guess, you would say that he is about as strong as you were in Inglessa, perhaps a little stronger. He is also a lot more stable and rounded than the Corado siblings.
What to talk about…
Choose 3
[] "What is your plan exactly?"
[] "Has the real Dianna told you anything about her time as you?"
[] "Did you have any contact with the Ghingham Fleet before the coup?"
[] Offer to help the Lieutenant with his abilities.
[x] "Has the real Dianna told you anything about her time as you?"
[x] Offer to help the Lieutenant with his abilities.
Also, now that we're in space I feel really sorry for the poor bastards that have to deal with a Quebely's funnel spam while the Turn X keeps them from just taking out the Quebely.
And I completely forgot that the Turn X's I-Field has Wide Guard last vote. Should have brought that up as an additional reason to finish upgrading it - we can use that to screen for the rest of the team.
I wonder, can we learn to use Psyco-Shroud to boost the Turn X's I-Field instead of creating a separate, largely inferior anti-beam barrier? Psyco-Shroud has better regen, but it DOESN'T have Field Integrity which means it's far more vulnerable to nickle-and-diming.
[X] "What is your plan exactly?"
[X] "Did you have any contact with the Ghingham Fleet before the coup?"
[X] "Did the real Dianna told her anything at all? It might be importance."
[X] "Has the real Dianna told you anything about her time as you?"
[X] Offer to help the Lieutenant with his abilities.
Once Sochie and the disguised Kihel have finished their tearful reunion you step forward to ask your questions. "Kihel, what is your plan exactly?"
Kihel-as-Dianna, who by now almost feels like the real thing to your senses, draws herself up. "Of course. Dianna and I discussed it during the weeks we were together on the Soleil, but I can tell you the short version. We were to wait until we could end the war in a manner that would not see the Moonrace civilians we brought with us mistreated, though the plan would likely work with a proper ceasefire to keep the Militias from interfering. After that we would lead the Dianna Counter to the Mass Driver in Adeska and use it to return to the Moon. Once there we would put an end to the plans of Dianna's prime minister and bring the Ghingham Fleet to heel."
A bit barebones, in your opinion, but you suppose you are going to hear the long version at some point in the future.
She pauses to catch her breath, and as she reaches for a glass of water you and Sochie share a burst of mutual congratulation over having the foresight to take a few steps to the side to find some seats once Kihel started to talk.
"One more thing, has the real Dianna told you anything about her time as you?"
"Some of it, we mostly focused on that which related to the war." Kihel answers, having drained the glass during your self-congratulating. "She did mention that you destroyed two more of those white dragon machines, other than the one you destroyed during the reception. You have my thanks."
"It was no trouble." You insist. While Hashmals are lethal to anything else, the White Doll is more than up to the challenge.
She smiles at you. "If you say so. The last one was destroyed by the engineer watching over it when the coup began. She had installed a killswitch into it after the incident at the reception and activated it to deny it to the rebels" Her face falls. "We lost contact with her group after the Ghingham Fleet force attacked, so her current fate is unknown."
Kihel shakes her head. "But to get back to your question she did fill me in about this Will Game character who came to us several months ago, as well as these powers that suddenly manifested in Harry."
You and Sochie find your gazes locking onto the Lieutenant. 'Harry', huh?
"How is Mr. Game doing?" You ask in order to distract Sochie from tearing into the secretly flustered Lieutenant. "I never saw him again after he left for Dianna Counter territory."
"He was alive when the coup started." Kihel shrugs. "His Mobile Suit was damaged and unsuitable for combat, and while Mr. Game was healthy he was much the same. I had him assigned to escorting supply convoys away from the front, but his current status is unknown."
Your offer to help the Lieutenant with his powers is deflected with a vague, non-committal promise of accepting training later. Sochie, not one to be too distracted from her goal, has started to needle Kihel about 'that white-haired lecher'. Seems like she sensed the Lieutenant's feelings as well.
She was certainly in for a surprise when she sensed that Kihel returned them.
The two of you are about to leave when Kihel stops you. "Loran? There is one thing I wanted to ask you:" She walks up to a briefcase undeath a console, retrieving it in a smooth motion before taking out-
A Nano-Block.
"The Dianna Counter found this at the dig site where they found the Muttowooos. There were more, found at other Mountain Cycles, but by now I believe they are in the hands of the Rebels or the Ghingham Fleet operatives. Captain Gadget referred to them as powerful repair tools one of the times I had the misfortune of speaking with the woman, so if the White Doll is still damaged…"
You gratefully accept the Nano-Block, and later that day, with your rear firmly planted in the White Doll's piloting seat, you think on which system to use it on.
[] A Destroyed System.
--[] Write in.
[] A Damaged System.
--[] Write in.
[] Let Vestige Decide.
[] On second thought, you'll hold off for now.
Three small weapons around the Beam Saber. (Wire Launchers)
Four small weapons on the White Doll's head. (Laser Vulcans?)
Weapon within the White Doll's head. (Beam Cannon?)
Weapon on the left wrist. (Wrist Beam Gun/Saber?)
Weapon deep in both legs. (Beam Cannons?)
Weapon in the chest . (Beam Cannon?)
Weapon in the waist. (Beam Cannon?)
Weapons in the shoulders. (Beam Cannons?)
Weapon deep in the left arm. (Beam Cannon?)
Weapons
Type-TX Beam Pistol 20/500 (Heavily Damaged. Ranged)
Attacks Per Turn: 1d2
Damage: 2
Critical Hit: On Critical Success.
Special: -Penetration 1: +1 to target's Armor Save DC. -Unreliable: Unusable for one Turn on Major Failure. Unusable for all following Turns in a Scene(Update) upon Critical Failure.
Defensive Systems.
I-Field. 32/200 (Damaged)
Field Density: 4-1
Dissipation Save: 4+
Field Integrity: 8
Special: -I-Field: Barrier against Ranged Beam Attacks only. Immune to Beam Penetration. -Dampening: Whichever Ranged Beam Attack breaks through the I-Field has its Damage reduced by remaining Field Integrity. -Wide Guard: Expands the I-Field to cover a large area, cutting its Integrity in half in exchange for shielding everyone within close range of the White Doll. -Regenerate 2: Regains 2 Integrity at the end of each Turn.
Mobility Systems.
Landskimmers. 24/200 (Damaged) -Speed +: Hidden -15 modifier to speed DC while on the ground.
Lightwave Main Propulsion (Voiture Lumiere). 24/500 (Heavily Damaged, Unstable) -Extreme Speed: Hidden -45 modifier to speed DC while in the air or in space. -Unstable: +1d45 modifier to speed DC while in use. -Demanding: +30 to Condition DC after three Turns or one Engagement of usage with Pilot Skill below 4. -Lightwave Propulsion: This system requires no fuel, only energy.
Stealth Systems.
Invisible Umbrella 282/500 (Heavily Damaged) -Cloak 1: -10 modifier to various DC as the White Doll disappears from passive sensors. Breaks when the White Doll enters Medium Range or attacks.
Holo-Decoy 24/500 (Heavily Damaged) -Decoy 1: Produces a faint afterimage.
Misc Systems.
LUNA Energy Transference Module 24/500 (Heavily Damaged) -Universal Compatibility: The White Doll can use most types of equipment by wirelessly transferring power to them.
Carapace Backpack. -Armory Backpack 5: Can store 5 weapons for later use. -Adaptive workings: Will alter itself to carry MS weapons no matter their shape. Within limits.
-Carapace I-Field 24/500 (Heavily Damaged)
-Carapace Flight Mode 24/200 (Damaged)
*
The next day you reach the part of Adeska that Vestige calls the 'Yucatan Peninsula'. The Psychoframe Ghost offers to tell you the funny story of the various ways the peninsula got its name through the cycles, but you decline. It is more important that you solve the disturbing mystery that the two ships stumbled across when you got onto solid ground:
Where are the Adeskans?
You have found some isolated farmsteads and villages here and there, but every major settlement you have come across in a day's journey around the area where Kihel says the mass driver is have been deserted.
Eventually Lord Guin orders you and the other Mobile Suit pilots aboard the Borjarnaught to do some scouting around the area. There is supposed to be an Adeskan city somewhere around here, and he wants to find it to open negotiations before the presence of the two ships start a war.
Even with all of you out looking, it takes a while for you to find anyone. You and Sochie are taking a break near the mountain when you sense someone looking at you.
A boy and a girl, observing your Mobile Suits from above.
Vestige stirs at the sight, their Pressure radiant with annoyance.
These people again? This is, what, the THIRD time I have run-that I REMEMBER running into these idiots!? Seriously, Loran, you have no idea. The first time that I-that KREIS ran into them, during Aeolia's cycle, was bad enough, but the second time during the Universal Century was really, really stupid.
You tune out Vestige's ranting as you consider your next move. The boy has already run away in fear, but the girl remains staring at the White Doll…
[] Confront the girl alone.
--[] On foot.
--[] In the White Doll.
[] Confront the girl with Sochie.
--[] On foot.
--[] In your Mobile Suits.
[] Note this location on your map and return to the Borjarnaught.
[] Try to follow the boy wherever he has run off to.
[X] A Destroyed System.
--[x] Weapon on the left wrist. (Wrist Beam Gun/Saber?)
We are going into space so it makes sense to repair a weapon that can be used in space
The Laser Vulcans have limited firepower and we don't need them as an anti-Funnel measure now that we can Psycho-Hijack funnels.
[x] A Destroyed System.
--[x] Weapon on the left wrist. (Wrist Beam Gun/Saber?)
Solid melee and range option. Even if not as strong as the Destruction Manipulator it's still integral melee/ranged punch that we can use in conjuction with the Destro manipulator.
@Iceblocks
Can we fire the left wrist gun and a gun in the left hand in the same turn?
[X] Confront the girl with Sochie.
--[X] On foot.
This is going to be really, REALLY dumb if Vestige/Keris thinks they're specifically noteworthy as idiots. I mean the only other people to get THAT was the cast of AGE.
@Iceblocks
Can we fire the left wrist gun and a gun in the left hand in the same turn?
[x] Note this location on your map and return to the Borjarnaught.
This is going to be really, REALLY dumb if Vestige/Keris thinks they're specifically noteworthy as idiots. I mean the only other people to get THAT was the cast of AGE.
Yes. The beam emitter is designed to angle itself so that it won't hit whatever is held in the left hand when firing. It does lose 1d2 (out of 2d2) Attacks while in melee should the left hand hold a weapon though.
As for Vestige's idea that Mesoamerican=Idiot, that is because Vestige's previous points of reference are: One, the AD cycle Aztecs that were worshipping the Turn System and gave Kreis quite a fright when he woke from his hibernation (See Dream 2). Two, the inhabitants of Moon-Moon. Vestige inherited Kreis' memories and biases, so take their view on the Adeskans with a pinch of salt.
Yes. The beam emitter is designed to angle itself so that it won't hit whatever is held in the left hand when firing. It does lose 1d2 (out of 2d2) Attacks while in melee should the left hand hold a weapon though.
As for Vestige's idea that Mesoamerican=Idiot, that is because Vestige's previous points of reference are: One, the AD cycle Aztecs that were worshipping the Turn System and gave Kreis quite a fright when he woke from his hibernation (See Dream 2). Two, the inhabitants of Moon-Moon. Vestige inherited Kreis' memories and biases, so take their view on the Adeskans with a pinch of salt.
[X] A Destroyed System.
--[x] Weapon on the left wrist. (Wrist Beam Gun/Saber?)
[X] Confront the girl with Sochie.
--[X] On foot.
When Nano-Block fall into Laran hand I still don't know what I really want to fix.
And Gadget really did has at least some Nano-Block on hand. How can Loran steal it?
[X] A Destroyed System.
--[x] Weapon on the left wrist. (Wrist Beam Gun/Saber?)
You push the Nano-Block into the cockpit wall and set it to repair the weapon in the White Doll's left wrist when the prompt appears. Like with the last two times the Nano-Block dissolves into the wall and a stream of multicolored mist flows down the White Doll until it reaches the target area. The holographic display changes from red to orange as the mist gets to work, and then finally to green once the last bright wisps have completely faded.
Vestige, who has been observing the whole spectacle, stirs.
Good choice. That weapon has an adaptive emitter, allowing it to serve as a beam gun and a beam saber depending on what you need. The emitter can also angle itself so that it will not strike anything you might be holding in the left hand, though this is a lot less effective when you are in close combat. Seriously, if it was a metal blade then I…then Kreis would never have put it in there.
Left Wrist Beam Gun/Saber Fully Repaired!
Left Wrist Beam Gun/Saber. (Ranged/Melee/Beam)
Attacks: 2d2
Damage: 3
Base AP: 4
Critical Hit: On Critical Success.
Special: -Penetration 1: +1 to Target Armor Save DC. -Wrist Weapon: -1d2 Melee Attacks when the White Doll is carrying a weapon in the left hand. No penalty when shooting. -Mode Change: Changes between Beam Gun and Beam Saber modes depending on the Target. -All Range Weapon: No Long Range Penalty. -Integrated Weapon: Does not count towards the carried weapon cap.
*
[X] Confront the girl with Sochie.
--[X] On foot.
The sun sets a few minutes after you and Sochie set out after the girl in red. She is a slippery one, but no amount of sneaking around can help her hide from telepathic tracking.
"Hello? We just want to talk!" Yells Sochie into the copse of trees the girl is hiding in. the answer comes in the form of an arrow. For someone as scared of you as she is, the Adeskan girl is quite the silled archer.
But still, rude.
Warned by your precognition and clairvoyance, you reflexively catch the arrow aimed at yourself. Not with telekinesis, but with a gloved hand. It was so easy, and your body has not even fully recovered yet…the First Humans were bullshit.
Sochie, in a moment of frustration, has drawn her sidearm, but the Adeskan girl has already taken off. And yet your attention is drawn elsewhere. It is muted, but you think you can sense a lot of people further into the mountains, likely the Adeskan capital of Manupitch. There is also a dense presence nearby, alone, yet closer.
[] Keep going as you are.
--[] Pursue the girl.
--[] Head towards the mass of people.
--[] Investigate the lone presence.
[] Go back for reinforcements.
--[] Mass of people.
--[] Lone presence.