>>43276559
“We're getting a message from Cima's flagship,” Catharine informs you from the bridge. “Patching it through.”

“Sorry about this, Nagato” Cima's voice tells you on the pre-recorded message. “I won't be making the rendezvous near Luna. There's something else I have to do... but I promise, you're going to love the results.”

“Don't wait up.”

The message ends.

“We can't count on her,” Emma insists from her own cockpit. “She's always had her own agenda, from the end of the war right up to today.”

“I don't get it,” Ilia chimes in. “I really thought she was on our side. She's got to be planning something.”

“But what?” Rossweisse counters. And she has a fair point, you can never quite be sure what that woman is thinking. Although you doubt she'd outright betray you and your allies, you also can't be absolutely sure that her interests and priorities are the same as yours. She'll act in the way she considers best, and she may at some point consider your safety... but that doesn't mean you'll ever be perfect allies.

Really, you even have your doubts about the EFSF's agenda, as well as Char's.

>Let her do what she wants. She'll pull through in the end.
>Emma's right. We can't plan on receiving any help from Cima.
>We can't really trust any of our “allies” right now anyway. Prioritize our own forces and their success.
>Other?

>>43276599
>Let her do what she wants. She'll pull through in the end.

>>43276599
>Other?
Alice, were there any unfinished super weapons or projects we forgot to account for?

>>43276638
Goddammit, superweapons. Why do bad guys fetish-ize you so much?

>>43276599
>Let her do what she wants. She'll pull through in the end.
She always has

>>43276761
I'm just paranoid that she found a Sol weapon or a colony laser or something and plans on using it to wipe out everyone.

>>43276790
...that doesn't match what we know of her at all though.

>writing

>>43276808
Well maybe not us specifically, but the astroid and everyone else she doesn't like.

>>43276854
“She's come through for us in the past,” you admit. “Let's count on her, one last time.”

In front of you, Haman shrugs. “She'd better not screw us out of half our landing team.”

What the hell could that woman be up to? Knowing her, it's something that'll benefit you... but it's also probably something wicked.

You proceed without Cima's fleet, for now.

By moving around Luna in a wide arc, your fleet manages to build up enough momentum to catapult itself well outside the orbit of Earth's moon and towards the path of Axis. In a complicated pirouette the Nagato, at Defrah's skilled hands, manages to place itself in a descending arc to match the closing velocity of the asteroid and its escort, performing a hard reversal to bring her multiple batteries and forward-facing flight decks to bear. It takes coordination with ALICE for the other ships in your group to match the feat of piloting, but within three days of Cima's message the battle lines have finally been drawn.

You and your teams remain in the hangars or on the launch ramp for the duration of maneuvers, in case advanced elements of the Mars Zeon fleet decide to take any independent action. The ready room turns into a communal bunkhouse, with teams taking it in shifts to sleep on the couches. Eventually, the two fleets drift into the outside range of the Nagato's main armament.

“We have a firing solution!” Reiko announces from the bridge. “ALICE will be handling the targeting, the rest of us will handle coordination between MS teams and allied elements!”

Karen contacts your machine's cockpit. “I'm leaving MS deployment up to you, but let Navy do the heavy shelling for now. Sit tight for a while and watch ALICE do her work.”
>1/2

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>>43277011
The initial exchange clearly favors the Nagato's long-range gunnery, with a few hits being registered to cheers of triumph among the support crews. But your own fleet begins to take damage as well as the EFSF support cruisers stray too close to the Axis fleet. One cruiser suffers serious damage, though thankfully it's not the one carrying Amuro and his Zeta team. Eventually the fleets settle in at each others' maximum effective firing ranges, with both sides scoring occasional hits on the other.

This is how fleet-scale battles work in space... and the next step is mobile suit combat. Generally, some form of scouting or fast-attack units are the first to commit.

>Sortie the Liliums, counteract the Mars Zeon's initial thrust and bait out their main attack units
>Allow the EFSF and Titans grunts to engage, hold your elite MS teams aboard the Nagato as reserves
>Sortie the Purus in their quad-wings as artillery and all-range harassment units, but keep them close to the Nagato
>Commit no forces, allow the Zeon recon force to overextend towards your allies' line before countering
>Other?

>>43277035
>Sortie the Purus in their quad-wings as artillery and all-range harassment units, but keep them close to the Nagato

>>43277035
>Sortie the Purus in their quad-wings as artillery and all-range harassment units, but keep them close to the Nagato
>Other?
Reach out and attempt to detect the enemy newtype forces and gather their deposition. How do they feel?

>>43277171
>>43277035
Seconded.

So I'm thinking about lengthening the voting period to 20 minutes, since there are so few people here and the voting's been going so slowly. Gives people a little bit of time to trickle in.

>>43277035
>Sortie the Purus in their quad-wings as artillery and all-range harassment units, but keep them close to the Nagato

>>43277035
>Sortie the Purus in their quad-wings as artillery and all-range harassment units, but keep them close to the Nagato
>>43277274
voting now but I did not before since what I wanted was winning

>>43277035
>Commit no forces, allow the Zeon recon force to overextend towards your allies' line before countering

>>43277274
Sorry, I just got here. Was busy earlier, didn't get a chance to get online.

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>>43277035
“Marida, Cynthia, Diona,” you order. “I want you three to sortie. Stick close to the Nagato, but use your funnels to start countering the Mars scouting force. Ilia, please sortie with your mobile armor in case they need the support.”

“Understood, Dominic,” Marida replies. “You hear the man, girls!”

Four acknowledgments wink across your display as the four machines' locations are projected onto your HUD.

“FUNNELS!” the triplets command as their remote weapons zip forward into battle.

While they do so, you extend your own Newtype senses towards the enemy fleet...

>3d10, best of 3. DC 7.

Rolled 4, 1, 1 = 6 (3d10)

>>43277479

Rolled 10, 6, 5 = 21 (3d10)

>>43277479
Roll'in

Rolled 1, 2, 4 = 7 (3d10)

>>43277479

>>43277479
new dice system is a shit.

>>43277499
>>43277514
>>43277526
Ouch, rolling low. Tough DC.

>>43277559
Strictly speaking with this new dice system, rolling 2 out of 3 7's is a fair bit harder than just flat out rolling a 7.

With the new DC it's basically a curve, and there's more dc's above 5 than below, so the switch is pretty much a flat-out difficulty increase.

Damn, it's been a long road. Can't participate too actively since I'm at work but will be checking in when I can. It's been a blast, good luck and god speed everyone.

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>>43277479
As the trio of clones open fire, you hear Marida proclaim something interesting across the comms.

"We're not gonna let you reach our ship!" she shouts as yet another one of the forward MS is downed by a distant funnel.

Haman pours over the battle data. "They're avoiding fatal shots..."

"Those girls still believe in showing kindness..." Carrina explains quietly. "That a human's possibilities are only closed in death."

"They're better than us, in a way," Audrey sighs. "Makes me wanna go out there and help them."

As you continue to probe the Mars fleet, you're not surprised at what you find. Relatively few Newtypes are among them, probably only a few alongside that boy Glemy, and the majority of their forces are tense. What surprises you is what you don't find: the cloned sisters of your own trio of lovable Newtypes.

"First wave has been repulsed," Cynthia reports.

"Good shooting," you congratulate them. "Stand by for further orders."

"Roger!" you hear them reply in unison.

Karen contacts your cockpit with news on the next phase of battle.

"The Titans MS corps is moving forward," she announces. "And check the telemetry for the Cima fleet. ALICE thinks they're timing their arrival to coincide with the Titans' shore team."

>Thanks for the heads-up, we'll support the advance of the landing team.
>We'll continue to hold in reserve until Cima makes her move. She's bound to create an opening.
>We should press the main fleet, draw the bulk of the Mars MS battlegroup away from Axis itself.
>We should make a diversionary run together with the Nagato, see if we can apply pressure to their flank.
>Other?

>>43277824
>We should press the main fleet, draw the bulk of the Mars MS battlegroup away from Axis itself.

>>43277824
>We'll continue to hold in reserve until Cima makes her move. She's bound to create an opening.
>Other?
I've got a bad feeling about this. Is it possible to contact Cima before she makes her move?

>>43277824
>>We should press the main fleet, draw the bulk of the Mars MS battlegroup away from Axis itself.
We still have the reserves

I can think of only 2 reasons Cima is not tell us her plan. Either she doesn't trust communications, or she thinks we won't approve of it.

>>43277824
>Thanks for the heads-up, we'll support the advance of the landing team.

>>43277873
>>43277911
I'm not sure if that's the best course of action. I still think she's planning to use a weapon that's intended to wipe out as much of Axis Mars and the Titans as possible.

>>43277824
“I want to press an attack on the main fleet,” you announce calmly, “draw as much heat off the landing teams as we can. Give them a fighting chance.”

“Roger that, Dominic,” Karen replies. “First team, second team, prep for launch. Transferring you to operators now.”

“I've got you today,” Reiko announces cheerfully, “so just leave all the logistics to me and kick some ass!”

>3d10, DC 5.
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJYPJdrx1Dg

Rolled 1, 9, 2 = 12 (3d10)

>>43278221
Rolling out!

Rolled 8, 1, 2 = 11 (3d10)

>>43278221

Rolled 3, 1, 2 = 6 (3d10)

>>43278221
Here we go!

Rolled 5, 3, 4 = 12 (3d10)

>>43278221

>>43278262
>>43278341
>>43278384
... wow. Even by this quest's standards those are poor.

>>43278407
The dice don't like us today.

>>43278221
“You've been waiting for this, haven't you?” you taunt your operator, who blows a raspberry at you over the comms as your Lilium darts off the catapult. You redline your machine's acceleration, pushing it as hard as you think you can manage without damaging the verniers.

Haman flips on the stealth jamming suite for good measure as soon as you're clear of the Nagato's firing lanes. “This ought to confuse them,” she explains.

True enough. This means the landing team will have suddenly disappeared from the Mars fleet's sensors, and when you eventually launch your attack on their fleet it'll come as a complete surprise. The commanders of each ship will be forced to make a snap decision without coordinating, leading to immediate disarray.

“Smart,” Rossweisse compliments your copilot. “You beat me to it.”

You close rapidly with the Mars fleet before Haman switches off the jammers... but few of the defenders seem to take the bait. Instead many of the mobile suits seem to be going after the landing team heading for Axis.

“Shit, they didn't go for it!” Audrey calls as you and Carrina quickly take out a small group of Zeon mobile weapons that did come after you... a token force more than anything else. “Status on the Cima fleet?”
>1/2

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>>43278596
“They're not stopping!” Reiko reports. “Hold on, ALICE is telling us they're on a collision course with Axis!”

Haman elbows you in the ribs as you behead some sort of Rick Dom variant with your wrist saber and thrust backwards towards the Nagato. “Look at the telemetry! Cima's fleet is multiplying! Three new contacts... no, six!”

“Komusai!” Rossweisse shouts. “They detached from their cruisers... one is altering course for the Marine's landing site on Axis. The others are heading for Luna!”

Before Carrina can explain it aloud, you see evidence of a method to Cima's madness. Most of the Mars Zeon capital ships have ceased fire on your main force, and have diverted to intercept the Cima fleet. In addition lifeboats seem to be launching from their hulls as they go... they don't intend to shoot down Cima's runaway warships.

They intend to stop mass with mass.

>Fall back to the Nagato immediately, get out ahead of Axis' path. Most of the debris field from this is going to fall behind Axis, so the Nagato and the other allied ships will be safe.
>Move closer to Axis, make sure you're in the shadow of the asteroid. It's riskier, but lets you take immediate action in the aftermath.
>Other?

>>43278666
>Move closer to Axis, make sure you're in the shadow of the asteroid. It's riskier, but lets you take immediate action in the aftermath.

>>43278666
>Move closer to Axis, make sure you're in the shadow of the asteroid. It's riskier, but lets you take immediate action in the aftermath.

>>43278666
>Move closer to Axis, make sure you're in the shadow of the asteroid. It's riskier, but lets you take immediate action in the aftermath.

>>43278666
3d10, DC 5.

Not a big deal roll, but it'll give you some interesting details.

Rolled 10, 4, 9 = 23 (3d10)

>>43279065
Rolling

Rolled 1, 6, 1 = 8 (3d10)

>>43279065

>>43279081
Where have you been?

>>43279065
Whatever happened to the nukes anyway?

Rolled 10, 8, 4 = 22 (3d10)

>>43279149

>>43279118
I've always been here. The dice decided to get better.

>>43279065
“We're moving in closer to Axis!” you order. “Reiko, spread the word to any forward units to either fall back or take cover!”

As you and Carrina race towards Axis' shadow, you see flashes of light in the distance as several cruisers slam into each other at massive velocities, tearing themselves apart into clouds of plasma and shattered metal. The sight is terrifying and spectacular even from here, and the shrapnel is spreading in an elongated field. It seems carefully planned on Cima's part, as the vast majority of the shards of metal fall behind Axis itself.

“So, that was the big surprise!” Cima announces victoriously as her Gerbera Tetra machine-guns a nearby Mars mobile suit, coming to your aid alongside her subordinates. “Figured the best way to cut their numbers was do draw them out, and the best way to do that is to threaten what they're protecting.”

“That wasn't all,” you observe warily. “You left people behind on those cruisers.”

Cima launches a missile at a heavily-modified Zaku, blasting away a good chunk of its torso. “Well, several of the prominent Zabi loyalists in the Republic senate wanted to oversee the battle from the front lines... all I did was ensure they had the best front-row seats in the house.”

“You mean you used it to clear out your political opponents,” Haman scoffs as her funnels force a trio of Martian suits to evade into the Nagato's firing lanes.

“Not mine,” Cima counters, her voice showing hints of exhaustion. “This will be my last battle. What I do from here on is for the ones who take my generation's place, so they won't have to deal with stubborn old bastards like that.”

“You can thank me later.”

>Any other plans I should know about?
>Fine by me, we should be focusing on keeping the LZ clear for the landing party.
>Their Newtype clones are still unaccounted for. Second team can handle things here, we'll go try and draw out Bernni's strongest machines.

>>43279354
>Their Newtype clones are still unaccounted for. Second team can handle things here, we'll go try and draw out Bernni's strongest machines.

>>43279354
>Their Newtype clones are still unaccounted for. Second team can handle things here, we'll go try and draw out Bernni's strongest machines.
I'm assuming our allied fleet is going to press the advantage now?

>>43279354
>Any other plans I should know about?
>Their Newtype clones are still unaccounted for. Second team can handle things here, we'll go try and draw out Bernni's strongest machines.

>>43279354
>Their Newtype clones are still unaccounted for. Second team can handle things here, we'll go try and draw out Bernni's strongest machines.

>>43279354
>Their Newtype clones are still unaccounted for. Second team can handle things here, we'll go try and draw out Bernni's strongest machines.

>writing
Also, I may need to take a short break after this update. Shouldn't be long at all.

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>>43279354
“Unless you've got any other surprises,” you growl, “we should figure out where they're keeping their Newtypes and elite units.”

“It's strange,” Rossweisse comments. “We should be feeling their presence by now.”

There are a few options to draw out the remaining elite units. The first is to attack again directly, using your own Newtype forces as the spearhead. The second is to bring in the Nagato and the rest of her forces to press the advantage Cima's given you. The third, of course, is to take a page from Cima's book and find a specific threat that Bernini feels obligated to defend.

You finally settle on a first course of action, calling back to the Nagato.

“Emma,” you call across the comms. “Come on in and take our place here. Hold this location while we bait Bernini's elites.”

The response is immediate. “We're on our way, sir. We'll handle everything else, as usual.”

“It's for the best,” Roberto admits. “These machines probably can't take anything designed to counter a Gundam anyway.”

“The heart is willing,” Apolly adds, “but the armor is brittle and the thrusters weak.”

“I'm counting on you,” you tell them. “Don't die now.”

With that order you push on towards the remainder of the Mars fleet, which is still regrouping after Cima's last attack run.

>Attack the largest ship you can find. That's bound to be Bernini's flagship.
>Start taking out grunt MS, cause the kind of ruckus that can't be ignored.
>Move to threaten the thermonuclear thrusters propelling Axis, bluff Bernini into showing his hand.
>Other?

>>43279879
>Move to threaten the thermonuclear thrusters propelling Axis, bluff Bernini into showing his hand.

>>>Move to threaten the thermonuclear thrusters propelling Axis, bluff Bernini into showing his hand.

>>43279879
>Move to threaten the thermonuclear thrusters propelling Axis, bluff Bernini into showing his hand.

It is so strange we cannot detect any the clone's appearance at all. Is it possible they have developed technology to hide their presence? Have they developed alternatives to Newtypes?

Or maybe Axis is some sort of enormous trap to wipe out all enemies at once?

>>43279879
>3d10, DC 5

Rolled 6, 3, 4 = 13 (3d10)

>>43280231
rolling

Rolled 6, 6, 2 = 14 (3d10)

>>43280231

Rolled 10, 9, 9 = 28 (3d10)

>>43280231

Rolled 2, 7, 10 = 19 (3d10)

>>43280231

Looks like Bernini fell for the bluff.

>>43280286
“Hold back!” you suddenly order, pulling back hard on your machine's thrusters to halt your forward momentum. The strain slams you into your harness as Haman holds her armrests in a death grip. Carrina and Rossweisse's machine does the same almost in tandem with you, Carrina having evidently foreseen what you've sensed coming.

“What's wrong?” Audrey shouts. Before you can answer, Karen takes over Reiko's comms.

“The Titans ships just launched a barrage of nukes!” she roars. “Keep clear!”

“What are they thinking!?” Christina demands loudly as her machine runs a Zaku F2 through its cockpit with her beam saber. "We've still got machines at danger close!"

Missile tracks streak towards the Mars Zeon capital ship...

… only to disappear in a rapid series of laser and mega beam blasts. The Zeon vessel's defense systems shot down ALL of the missiles in the space of a second or two.

That was over a hundred targets. Even ALICE would have had trouble.

“That's where they are,” Carrina exclaims breathlessly. “All ten of them. We couldn't sense their thoughts before because there were no thoughts to sense.”

“Wait, what do you mean?” Audrey demands angrily.

Rossweisse manages to keep her composure. “They must have hooked the remaining clones up to the weapons systems of that battleship. They'd be left little more than a living supercomputer with the brainwaves and innate capacity of a Newtype.”

“That's just sick,” you scowl.

Cynthia radios your cockpit. “Does this mean... that you have to kill them?”

>Your sisters are already dead, Cynthia. I'm so sorry, but there's nothing we can do for them.
>I don't know. It may put us all at huge risk, but I'll try to save them if I that's what you want.
>I can't make this decision, and I can't tell you what the right choice is. Whatever you decide, I'll make it happen.
>Other?

>>43280575
>I don't know. It may put us all at huge risk, but I'll try to save them if I that's what you want.

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>>43280575
>>I can't make this decision, and I can't tell you what the right choice is. Whatever you decide, I'll make it happen.

>>43280575
>I don't know. It may put us all at huge risk, but I'll try to save them if I that's what you want.

>>43280575
>I can't make this decision, and I can't tell you what the right choice is. Whatever you decide, I'll make it happen.
>Other?
I have a stupidly dangerous idea. Can we attempt to establish a new type connection at this range and attempt to wake them up?

>>43280575
Well, now that we know where the newtypes and elites are, we can flush the reserves and wipe out the remaining escorts.

>>43280575
>I can't make this decision, and I can't tell you what the right choice is. Whatever you decide, I'll make it happen.
>Other?
"Can't go on to help anyone further if you're gone yourself though."

>They'd be left little more than a living supercomputer with the brainwaves and innate capacity of a Newtype.
Sometimes there are situations in this quest where I ask myself: This is just too perfect a situation for Paps to exploit, what would he do?

This is one of those cases. And then he'd probably deploy the Sereine System to make 'em go berserk as he laughs on.

>>43280575
>I can't make this decision, and I can't tell you what the right choice is. Whatever you decide, I'll make it happen. But there's probably no way to help them if they've done half of what we suspect they've done to them.

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>>43280694
Supporting this.
This post is brought to you by Anaheim Electronics.

>>43280575
>I don't know. It may put us all at huge risk, but I'll try to save them if I that's what you want.
>Other?
"Just...don't be too disappointed if it turns out there's nothing to save. We don't know how much of them they stripped away in the name of efficiency."

>>43280694
There's not much to "connect" to is the issue.

Also, all of youtube's targeted ads for me are for booze. It's like they know.

>>43280759
Oh wait, my retarded idea just got more retarded.

Our psycoframes have a tendency to sync our brainwaves with each other. If we can exploit this fact while attempting to wait up the clones, I actually have no clue what will happen.

>>43280804
Quickly contact our scientists to confirm that.

I guess there is not much to do besides what Cynthia decides to do

>>43280807
I know what will happen
SCIENCE!

Decision time:
>Try to extend your senses to check that the clones are truly brain-dead
or
>Maintain your situational awareness, ensure Bernini doesn't pull a fast one on you

>>43281036
>Try to extend your senses to check that the clones are truly brain-dead

>>43281036
>>Try to extend your senses to check that the clones are truly brain-dead
What can possibly go wrong!?

>>43281036
>Try to extend your senses to check that the clones are truly brain-dead

>>43281036
>Maintain your situational awareness, ensure Bernini doesn't pull a fast one on you

>>43281036
>Try to extend your senses to check that the clones are truly brain-dead
What's in the box?

Also, let everyone else know so we don't get whacked.

psycoframes on full power for maximum retardation.

>>43281036
>3d10 for the rabbit-hole
>higher is better

Rolled 7, 1, 2 = 10 (3d10)

>>43281246

Rolled 5, 3, 8 = 16 (3d10)

>>43281246
weeeeee!

Rolled 9, 9, 7 = 25 (3d10)

>>43281246

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>>43281274

>>43281274
You have saved us!

>>43281302
Achieved maximum PURUPURUPURU?

>>43281354
And Christmas was saved.

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>>43281246
“Everyone keep your eyes peeled,” you reply softly. “Before we condemn them, I want to check for a pulse.”

After a moment of thought, Haman taps the back of her helmet into your chest. “I'll help. Audrey, I'm routing control to you.”

“We'll watch your backs,” Carrina assures you. “Do what you gotta do and come back safe.”

You extend your mind towards the battleship, with Haman providing mental support. All ten of the clones are there, though it's almost impossible to tell them apart. There's not much left of their individual thoughts... no. That's not right. There's something still there, buried deep below layers of chemical and psychological conditioning and technological modifications.

You hear it.

Puru.

Who are you?

Purupuru.

Do you want to be our friend?

Purupurupurupuru...

Well... shit. Guess there aren't really any more options. This is going to suck for a while.
>1/2

>>43281302
So systematically abusing someone then having them man critical weapons systems turns out to be a poor decision... again.

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dem purus tho (SFW!)

>>43281496
“I'm sorry, Cynthia,” you reply softly. “I've done what I can for them, but there's nothing that can heal their living minds or bodies. I'll do what you wish.”

After a long moment, Diana is the one to give you the difficult reply. “Kindness alone can't save everyone... though it helped save the three of us. Had our sisters received such kindness... maybe they'd still be alive.”

You nod silently. “I understand your feelings. You never gave up on them, right until the end. And they appreciate that.”

“Do it,” Marida tells you. “I don't like the idea of the being used like this.”

Haman sends a message to Cima, who relays her orders to the distant Jormungand emplacement that has until now been kept in reserve. After a few seconds a massive green beam of plasma cores the battleship on the diagonal, reducing it to an empty hulk in a single shot.

“That's the last opportunity the Jormungand will have,” Cima reports. “Hope it was worth it.”

“We didn't have much choice,” you reply. “But I did what I could, puru.”

“What did you just say?” Marida presses.

You hear a note of surprise in Cynthia's voice. “We used to say that all the time, when we were growing up.”

>Fess up.
>Let's keep focused. Bernini's bound to get desperate.
>Suggest that maybe there's something left of their sisters after all.
>Other?

>>43281523
>Fess up.
They're gonna notice sooner or later, and it'll be worse if we hide it.

>>43281523
>>Fess up.

>>43281523
>Fess up.

>>43281523
>Fess up.

>>43281523
>Fess up.
We just kept on hearing that repeated over and over again.

>>43281523
>Other?
"It was all they could say. I guess they left an imprint?"

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>>43281555
>>43281588
To be abundantly clear, Dominic now has fragments of ten Puru clones floating around inside his psyche and a massive urge for ice cream.

>>43281734
Oh okay.
Still, better fess up.

>>43281734
What kind of ice cream?
Its vanilla right?

>>43281734
Even fucking better, unleash the Puru ghost horde.

Still better fess up.

We're going to sneak a couple Purus in our epic final speech aren't we, puru.

>>43281523
>Demand ice cream, puru.

>>43281734
Speaking of, I wonder what happened to the original Puru. Where's she, in all this? I can't imagine them damaging the original, they'd want to keep her as a backup. Maybe the Purus still have a big sister somewhere. Or little sister, I guess, what with the accelerated maturation. Point is, this might not turn out to be an entirely sad situation.

>>43281523
>>Suggest that maybe there's something left of their sisters after all.

>>43281904
Well if Elpeo Ple is still alive my money is her showing up with Glemy Toto.

>>43281523
“... I may have fragments of ten of your sisters in my head.”

There's an audible pause. Even the battle going on around you seems to slow for a moment.

Haman shakes her head. “You what now?”

“I found fragments of their individual psyches,” you explain quickly. “I realized that their minds and bodies were in a condition that they could never recover from, well beyond even what happened to Miss Fanning. So I invited what was left of them into my mind, puru.”

“I couldn't think of any other way to save their sisters, so I came up with this.”

“You're insane,” Carrina chastises you. “That being said... I've never loved you more than I do right now, you crazy bastard.”

The blaring of your sensors snaps you back to attention. It seems Bernini's personal mobile suit corps are making a beeline for the thermonuclear engines on the back end of Axis. They're going to try and destroy them...

>Get in and stop them in close combat, even if it'll take time to catch them.
>Open fire as precisely as possible, try not to hit the engines yourselves.
>Call on the fleet, bring them down now.
>Other?

>>43282064
>Open fire as precisely as possible, try not to hit the engines yourselves.

>>43282064
>>Call on the fleet, bring them down now.
>Open fire as precisely as possible, try not to hit the engines yourselves.

>>43282064
>>Open fire as precisely as possible, try not to hit the engines yourselves.
>>Call on the fleet, bring them down now.

>>43282064
>>Open fire as precisely as possible, try not to hit the engines yourselves.

>>43282064
>Open fire as precisely as possible, try not to hit the engines yourselves.

>>43282064
>Call on the fleet, bring them down now.
>Get in and stop them in close combat, even if it'll take time to catch them.
>Other?
When in comm range, call them out in a typical battle rage, then add a puru at the end just to fuck with them.

>>43282064
>Open fire as precisely as possible, try not to hit the engines yourselves.
>>43282143
Also this idea if we ever do get into comm range.

>>43282143
Pfft, I like this idea, puru!

>>43282143
>then add a puru at the end just to fuck with them.
This, puru!

>>43282064
>Open fire as precisely as possible, try not to hit the engines yourselves.
Still got funnels? Right, make them count.

>>43282294
Not just funnels, psycoframe-equipped fin funnels. It shouldn't be hard to maneuver them to a position so that they can take out the incoming suits without risking hitting the engines.

>>43282064
>3d10, DC 7

Rolled 3, 9, 10 = 22 (3d10)

>>43282408

Rolled 7, 1, 7 = 15 (3d10)

>>43282408

Rolled 8, 2, 1 = 11 (3d10)

>>43282408

>>43282360
The main issue being the distance involved, as well as the number of the triplets' that have been destroyed in combat.

Rolled 7, 4, 2 = 13 (3d10)

>>43282408
Gonna blow it!

>>43282428
How's combat in general going. I don't have a clear sense of who's winning the grunt war, or how the other aces are doing.

>>43282408
“Funnels, now!” you shout across the comms. “All of you, bring those four down!”

You scramble to get a couple of your own Lilium's funnels into position, spreading the duty between you, Haman, and Audrey even as you evade rockets and missiles being exchanged between the remaining mobile suits around you and dive over and under chunks of burning ship-grade armor plating.

Under the combined firepower two of Bernini's vanguard suffer from fuel explosions, while the remaining pair of machines struggle to get a shot off on the engines.

When it's down to the last survivor, apparently Bernini, you hear a cry come over the comm in a broad-spectrum burst.

“SEIG ZEON!” Bernini shouts as his mobile suit, a heavily modified Gyan Krieger, fires a massive beam from its shield even as the funnels find their mark, shredding through armor and cockpit alike. He finally dies for his ambitions... but before he goes he manages to damage one of the massive thrusters.

“That was close...” you mutter.

Haman nods, removing her helmet as fire from the surviving Mars Zeon mobile suits grows slack. “Seems like they're starting to see it's pointless. I wonder who all is left?”

>We should fall back and regroup for now, the shore team has probably done their job.
>Let's check status with the Nagato, see where we may be needed.
>We're on a roll, let's move in to engage Paptimus. I don't like that he's still holding back.
>Other?

>>43282453
Well. The grunts are suffering on both sides, but the Zetas and your other two teams in particular have more than leveled the odds.

Especially after Cima's stunt blew away most of the Mars fleet's heavy fire support.

>>43282559
>Let's check status with the Nagato, see where we may be needed.
They've got better cameras than us.

>>43282559
>>Let's check status with the Nagato, see where we may be needed.

>>43282559
>Let's check status with the Nagato, see where we may be needed.

>>43282559
>>Let's check status with the Nagato, see where we may be needed.

>>43282559
>Let's check status with the Nagato, see where we may be needed.
Huh now I have to wonder if that pilot of the Gyan Krieger from the Garden of thorns was Bernini.

>>43282559
>Let's check status with the Nagato, see where we may be needed.
Poor Bernini. He should never have taken the field personally, he's not the sort to do the fighting himself. I guess Zeon standards of "honor" forced his hand, though.

>>43282559
>>Let's check status with the Nagato, see where we may be needed.

That Paptimus what's its up to...

>>43282674
Probably not, I doubt he would have been willing to leave things in Axis for the months-long trip needed to do so.

>>43282559
>Other?
Make sure the shore team has secured the objective on their end. Everyone's getting off that rock, unless they want to stay and go say hi to the Goddess of Venus.

>>43282754
They've got some time. It's not like they're going to crash there immediately after making the course correction. It'll take months before that happens, though it will take much less time for Axis's orbit to have shifted enough that it's impossible to swing it around back to Earth.

>>43282559
“Reiko, what's the situation with the shore team?”

Your combat support's voice sounds strained. “Not good. The Pezun forces suffered losses during the holding action, and Roberto's machine took a pounding. But ALICE has something you need to hear.”

“Thrust loss estimated at twenty-five per cent, maneuverability has grown sluggish,” ALICE informs you in her synthesized, reverberant voice. “Bernini's last attack has led to a sixty per cent chance of Axis breaking up as it skims Earth's ionosphere. Margin of error ten per cent.”

“Char and Amuro's team of Zetas has taken on the Jovian faction,” Karen tells you. “But they're struggling. We're moving what support we can over there, but Axis is in a bad way. The shore team's trying to fix the engine that Bernini destroyed... it doesn't look good, Dom."

>I have an idea to take care of Axis. All you need is more thrust... right?
>We need to help Char and Amuro first.
>Other?

>>43282905
>We need to help Char and Amuro first.

>>43282905
>We need to help Char and Amuro first.

>>43282905
>We need to help Char and Amuro first.
Dang it Bernini even in death your still a pain.

>>43282905
>I have an idea to take care of Axis. All you need is more thrust... right?

>>43282905
>We need to help Char and Amuro first.
Magic Space T can wait for a bit. We should get an idea of how long we have for that though.

>>43282905
>>I have an idea to take care of Axis. All you need is more thrust... right?

>>43282905
>We need to help Char and Amuro first.

>I have an idea to take care of Axis. All you need is more thrust... right?
"We've got 200 outdated mobile suits we haven't used yet anyway.

>>43282905
>Other?
If we take out the opposing forces, we should be free to push Axis to the side with the combined output of the ships' thrusters making up for the damaged one on Axis. Throw in some psycoframe Light of Possibilities and it should work.

>>43282980
that sounds like a good idea.

>3d10
>hope it's high again

>>43283139

>>43283159
Try again.

Rolled 9, 7, 1 = 17 (3d10)

>>43283159
>>43283139
ffs

Rolled 2, 1, 9 = 12 (3d10)

>>43283139
Full set of 1s.

Rolled 8, 3, 2 = 13 (3d10)

>>43283139

Rolled 1, 1, 8 = 10 (3d10)

>>43283139

Rolled 5, 9, 1 = 15 (3d10)

>>43283139

>>43282980
Do it

>>43283139
It is time.

“Karen,” you tell your long-suffering commander. “I think it's time for that last-ditch plan.”

There's a short pause. “You heard the man. Let's get to work.”

“I've been waiting for this!” Reiko cheers. “Leave it to us this time!”

You send a brief message to Char and Amuro. If Paptimus is looking for a clash between great Newtype pilots, he's going to be sorely disappointed.

A wall of lead and beam shots is what he gets from you. Not even aimed shots either for the most part, though Karen takes a few shots with a beam sniper rifle in the old GM sniper ground variant your fleet has requisitioned. One of them blasts the head off some heavily customized machine that Paptimus probably put a lot of money into. Missiles pockmark his flagship, as there's really nowhere for it to maneuver to avoid the weapons. Even Reiko, Catharine, Noel, and Miyu get in on the action, firing the machine guns of a few outdated Zakus.

The converted fuel carrier is forced to fall back as its mobile suit teams take overwhelming fire, and Paptimus seems to think better of his plans to attack like this. He was probably banking on the combined fleet taking much more damage than it did.

“Pathetic,” Roseweisse summarizes.

“Yeah, if by that you mean awesome!” Karen crows. “Who's the bitch now, Papsmear!?”

You're fairly sure he can hear that.

>Commit the Nagato to changing Axis' trajectory.
>Ask ALICE what it will take
>Lead by example, start pushing with the psychoframe-empowered Liliums
>Chase down Paptimus, make sure he doesn't come back.
>Other?

>>43283499
>>Ask ALICE what it will take

Wait, if Dom has like 9 partial Puru's in his head, imagine all the funnels he could use right now!

>>43283499
>Ask ALICE what it will take

>>43283499
>Ask ALICE what it will take
Please let is be a directed nuke detonation.
I know in my heart it'll probably be vetoed. Can't risk breaking up or messing the trajectory with such an unrefined methid.

That reminds me. Artificial body for ALICE when?

>>43283499
>Ask ALICE what it will take

>>43283499
>>Ask ALICE what it will take

>>43283580
Didn't we already use up all of our nukes already?

>>43283622
Damn. Titans blew all of their load already? I thought they'd leave at least a few. Or that us and the rest of Londo Bell would have a couple.

>>43283499
“ALICE?” you ask as the Nagato begins recovering mobile suits, starting with bridge crew and other essential personnel. “What will it take to correct Axis' trajectory now?”

There is a long pause as she calculates. “Uncertain.”

“Then we'll just have to throw everything we have at it!” Defrah declares. “Karen, permission to push the asteroid clear of Earth's gravity well?”

“Granted,” your commander replies. “We'll see how our thrust affects its trajectory. ALICE? Keep track of the effect we're having.”

The sight is nothing short of extraordinary. Defrah maneuvers the Nagato carefully towards Axis, pressing the side of the ship up against the asteroid base. With a delicate touch she spins up the massive carrier's engines, effectively correcting for the loss of the massive thermonuclear engine destroyed by Bernini.

“Thrust up to eighty-seven per cent,” ALICE announces. “Current estimate is a fourty-five per cent chance of failure, with ten per cent error. Further lateral thrust is required.”

>We'll do this. Pushing our machines that hard is dangerous, nobody else needs to risk their lives.
>All the surviving pilots should pitch in.
>We should convince Mars Zeon's forces to assist... we need the help.
>Other?

>>43283760
Think this through. Order of events will determine who survives the attempt, and exactly what happens with the psychoframes.

>>43283760
>>All the surviving pilots should pitch in.
>>We should convince Mars Zeon's forces to assist... we need the help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIDR5ZBQBfo

>>43283760
>All the surviving pilots should pitch in.
>We should convince Mars Zeon's forces to assist... we need the help.
Dunno how to do the second part though.

>>43283760
>We should convince Mars Zeon's forces to assist... we need the help.
Broadcast this message on both radio and newtype weirdness. We can't risk the astroid falling to earth!

>>43283760
>>We'll do this. Pushing our machines that hard is dangerous, nobody else needs to risk their lives.
>All the surviving pilots should pitch in.
>We should convince Mars Zeon's forces to assist... we need the help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE6SAE1tCEE
Will go beyond the time...

>>43283760
>>All the surviving pilots should pitch in.
>>We should convince Mars Zeon's forces to assist... we need the help.

>>43283760
>We'll do this. Pushing our machines that hard is dangerous, nobody else needs to risk their lives.
I am not so sold on Mars ever lending assistance.

Any survivors on our side can watch our backs 'til the job's done though.

>>43283760
>We'll do this. Pushing our machines that hard is dangerous, nobody else needs to risk their lives.

>>43283760
>All the surviving pilots should pitch in.
>We should convince Mars Zeon's forces to assist... we need the help.

>>43283760
>We should convince Mars Zeon's forces to assist... we need the help.
>Other: Request that still operational ships from the EFSF and Titans come help before we resort to asking mobile suits to help

>>43283820
>>43283914
>>43284111
Just to be sure, you're absolutely positive that's the order in which you want things attempted?
King said that order counts on this choice.

>>43284140
Eh, it's the finale. I don't see a problem with asking people for help shoving the space rock in this order, since I don't think it's in atmosphere yet.

>>43284212
King said that the order in which things are attempted will determine who lives and who dies.
So you don't care who dies, then.

>>43284123
Choosing to lead by example, you push your Lilium over in a sharp turn and head for the side of Axis, planting its shoulder firmly against the stone. Next to you, the other Lilium pilots do the same. No words are needed between you.

The three Quad-Wings join you, putting their massive thrust behind the same task. The Val Varo grinds its nose deep into the stone, the entire Second team press their battle-worn shields against the surface of Axis and push as hard as they can despite their damage. But that's not all. The three Zetas join you next.

“Come on you whoresons!” Matsunaga roars as he abandons his machine's massive beam rifle to devote all of his effort to the near-impossible task. “Dost thou wish to live forever!?”

Two damaged EFSF cruisers join the effort, though they don't seem like they can maintain this for long either. After that come the hopelessly outdated legion of appropriated mobile suits begin to join you a few at a time, manned by members of the Nagato's crew who never expected to see combat. Even a few of the surviving Mars Zeon machines join you, though you can sense uncertainty among them as to why they're doing so.

But it's not enough.

The mobile suits that are pushing Axis along with you are damaged already. Many of them have lost thrusters or limbs in the fight, and a few of the more badly damaged machines begin to overheat and explode from the strain.

Roberto's voice reaches out to you... though not over the comms.

“Sorry, sir,” he apologizes. “It looks like this is as far as I go. Never as a soldier did I think I would get the chance to die for a cause like this... I have no regrets.”

Roberto's mobile suit disappears in a fireball.

Further down the length of Axis, one of the cruisers tumbles aside as its engines fail. One by one mobile suits fall behind from the same unsustainable strain.

>3d10, higher is better. DM is also rolling.

>>43283760
>All the surviving pilots should pitch in.
Start with a group effort, escalate to Axis Shock if need be.

Rolled 7, 7, 7 = 21 (3d10)

>>43284253
rolling

File: 1442789672021.jpg (119 KB, 960x720)

119 KB JPG

Rolled 8, 9, 2 = 19 (3d10)

>>43284253
Go!

Rolled 9, 7, 5 = 21 (3d10)

>>43284253

Rolled 6, 9, 5 = 20 (3d10)

>>43284253
>QM forgot his roll because he's an asshole

Rolled 2, 4, 1 = 7 (3d10)

>>43284253
No, Roberto! Please tell me Apolly is alright, at least.

>>43284212
Roberto's dead, I hope you're happy.

File: LAUGHTER.png (508 KB, 3180x3905)

508 KB PNG

>>43284273
>JACKPOT

>>43284290
Apolly will inherit Roberto's manly mustache in remembrance.

>>43284343
Did we reach the anti-Tomino end?

>>43284321
Eh, it's the finale. Have to fit in Tomino getting depressed somewhere.

We should have remembered to tell anyone who has to overload their MS to get to a fucking ship though. I'm going to blame that on not thinking anyone would go that far though.

>>43284253
>Roberto
Nooooooo!

We probably should have asked the Titans if they had any nukes left.
Axis probably could have survived a nuclear warhead going off on the surface, if it was positioned right, and the thrust might have been really useful, working as a kind of Orion nuclear pulse engine.

>>43284423
That's what its engines already are, actually. Those are fusion pulse engines, basically the same thing only with less radiation produced.

>>43284409
Maybe if we had left the option for all surviving pilots to pitch in later, maybe they wouldn't have pushed their suits as much.

King warned that choosing the order of events would determine who dies. Having the surviving pilots start pushing first, well, that's on us.

>>43284475
Then using nukes as fission pulse engines might have saved some lives.

>>43284480
Yea, but Roberto pushing his suit too far is on him. Besides, I doubt Mars Zeon would have been willing to help right away. I'm surprised they'd help at all, since they're not as dependant on Earth as Neo Zeon was.

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>>43284273
>>43284343
Your body feels oddly light.

All around, you can feel the others pushing their minds as hard as your machines are being pushed. Now's the time for a miracle, and the Lilium responds.

A green glow fills your cockpit, brightening to a blinding white.

“So what do we do?” Carya asks you, alone in the void. “About the asteroid, not the fact that we're nude.”

You look down at yourself, finding your cockpit and pilot suit absent. “Well, this is strange.”

“You're tellin' me,” Catrina chuckles, joining her sister. The fact that she has a separate body means you must be experiencing some sort of Newtype-related phenomenon. She actually doesn't look all that much like her sister... definitely not like identical twins.

Haman is the next to appear. “It seems we've got an opportunity here,” she muses. “Let's make it count.”

“I believe this has something to do with the psychoframe resonance phenomenon,” Rossweisse speculates as she joins you. “If Audrey appears next...”

“... that settles it,” Audrey concludes. “Well, now that we're all here... anyone have any bright ideas? Pure thrust may not end up working at this rate of loss.”

“We need to change the circumstances,” Haman agrees. “But how can we do that?”

>We need backup... but how do we get it?
>We need more power out of our engines.
>Simple. Change the gravitational constant of the universe.
>Other?

>>43284591
>We need backup... but how do we get it?

>>43284591
>We need backup... but how do we get it?
>Simple. Change the gravitational constant of the universe.

>>43284591
>Make Axis lighter.
This is less universe-ruining than mucking with gravity. Or we could make it vanish.

>>43284655
You're not gods. The effect would be localized: basically, you would be lightening Axis enough to push it with that option.

>>43284591
>We need backup... but how do we get it?
Changing the gravitational constant of the universe is a terrible idea. We don't have Alice to run the math

>>43284591
>Simple. Change the gravitational constant of the universe.
Let's make physics our bitch.

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>>43284591
>>We need backup... but how do we get it?
>Simple. Change the gravitational constant of the universe.
O LORD...

>>43284692
Oh, that's more reasonable. Still say we should just make some of the creamy center vanish though. Probably less lethal than ruining physics for a minute.

>>43284591
>Other?
People seem to notice that I can awaken newtype abilities out of oldtypes. What if everyone became a newtype? If everybody became a newtype, and we all pushed together, can we save earth?

>>43284591
>Other?
Could we will the broken engines back together, somehow?

>>43284591
>We need backup... but how do we get it?
Getting close to Halloween, so I vote Space Ghosts. Not like we know many, since we did contribute to minimizing overall casualties.

>>43284591
>Simple. Change the gravitational constant of the universe.

File: Audrey April 2.jpg (617 KB, 1208x1714)

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>>43284745
No. Psychofields deal with phenomena rather than anything as detailed or specific as that.

So while it is possible to twist the rules with the effect, re-creating a piece of complex machinery is impossible.

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>>43284734
>Probably less lethal than ruining physics for a minute.
We're not going to ruin physics, we're going to seduce it!

>>43284847
And so the harem protagonist ascends, and starts waifuing abstract concepts.

>>43284591
>We need backup... but how do we get it?

>>43284591
>Simple. Change the gravitational constant of the universe.
What could possibly go wrong?!

>>43284591
“We could use some backup,” you mutter. “But how would we even go about getting that?”

“Good question,” Haman frowns. “And I suppose Char and Amuro must be wondering the same thing.”

“What sort of plan would they never consider?” Rossweisse muses quietly. “We could try something that would not duplicate their efforts.”

“Besides,” Catrina shakes her head. “What backup would we even get?”

“If only Axis were lighter,” you sigh.

Audrey's head snaps towards you. “What did you say?”

“I said I wish Axis were lighter.”

“... that might actually work.”

“How's that?” Catrina asks.

“Well,” Audrey bites her lip. “Under normal circumstances we can force greater performance out of the Liliums. So what about extraordinary circumstances, with this many hearts all desperate for the same outcome?”

>We'll try Audrey's plan.
>We should try contacting the other Newtypes, see if we can all coordinate our efforts.
>We may be able to get in some backup somehow (write-in)
>Other?

>>43285155
>>We'll try Audrey's plan.
>>We should try contacting the other Newtypes, see if we can all coordinate our efforts.

>>43285155
If we're breaking reality why don't we fix the Purus?

>>43285155
>We'll try Audrey's plan.
>We should try contacting the other Newtypes, see if we can all coordinate our efforts.
Might as well try to get a few more Newtype brains in on this. Biosensor isn't as good as psycoframe, but it can still warp physics some.

>>43285155
>>We'll try Audrey's plan.
>We should try contacting the other Newtypes, see if we can all coordinate our efforts.

>>43285155
>We'll try Audrey's plan.
>We should try contacting the other Newtypes, see if we can all coordinate our efforts.

>>43285155
>We'll try Audrey's plan.
>We should try contacting the other Newtypes, see if we can all coordinate our efforts.
If the proximity is close enough, would that also trigger that Psychoframe event some chapters ago where everyone's all mentally synchronized?

>>43285155
>We'll try Audrey's plan
>We may be able to get in some backup somehow (write-in)
What about the ghosts of the Puru's that are inside Dom's mind?

>>43285180
I'm not sure reversing entropy is one of the things the Psyco-Field is capable of. And even if it is, now's not the time for it. We could try reproducing the phenomenon later under safer conditions, though. Maybe have ALICE interpret the data from a psycommu hookup like when she downloaded the information on the psycoframe from our brain. With her data interpretation abilities and any entropy-reversal, we might be able to make a PURU artificial intelligence to reincarnate the clones with.

>>43285155
>>43285180
Supporting. Can we try to reform the Purus to add to newtype magic?

>>43285180
Again, Psychofield deals with basic principles. Re-creating a physical body and restoring a mind is too complicated.

TBH the best result we're going to get out of the Purus bouncing around inside our head is probably ALICE-style AIs.

>>43285308
And a verbal tic, puru.

>>43285308
I did keep on calling the Puruvator route for a while now.

File: 1410576026387.jpg (239 KB, 666x697)

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Rolled 10, 4, 4 = 18 (3d10)

>>43285155
“We may not be able to contact them directly,” you realize aloud. “But I have ten puru clones in my mind... maybe they're still linked to their surviving sisters in some way.”

“Might as well try,” Catrina agrees. “But do it quickly, we don't have much time if we're gonna do this...”

>dice+3d10
>QM is also rolling again

Rolled 9, 1, 1 = 11 (3d10)

>>43285381

Rolled 8, 5, 8 = 21 (3d10)

>>43285381
dey see me rollin'

Rolled 4, 4, 10 = 18 (3d10)

>>43285381
We got ice cream and cake.

File: Noel-miu-cut-in.jpg (284 KB, 750x767)

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Rolled 4, 6, 2 = 12 (3d10)

>>43285381
And again for good measure...

>>43285391
Woop woop dat's da sound a da police!

Rolled 5, 8, 4 = 17 (3d10)

>>43285381
Come on, Dom, don't fail now, puru!

>>43285339
Is it wrong that I want the next generation of pilots to mimic us due to our fame and influence, eventually making "puru" a generic expression among anyone working with mobile suits?

>>43285381
>>43285406
Did our crew just die?

File: Haman 15.jpg (12 KB, 236x293)

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Rolled 10, 9, 3 = 22 (3d10)

>>43285406
And one final time.

>>43285381
>>43285404
Huh. Weird. Between this and the 7,7,7 earlier I think the dice gods are having fun with us tonight.

>>43285422
Not at all, puru!

>>43285448
And once again Haman's ruling over the dice.

>>43285406
Puru?
>>43285448
Puru!

>>43285448
Has her rack always been that nice? Typically she's depicted as pretty flat, puru.

File: Jupiter_eye-e1414524396756.jpg (117 KB, 1102x903)

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Looking around you, it becomes apparent that the other mobile suits have eased off on their thrusters. The Nagato has separated from Axis as well. Then, you notice it.

Jupiter.

“I can't believe that worked,” Haman gasps.

That's fucking Jupiter.

Your HUD indicates countless messages directed at you, far too many to answer.

“This is gonna take some explanation,” Carrina sighs over the comm. “But still, I'm glad we pulled that off.”

You're in Jovian orbit.

Your brain grapples with the implications. Things... are going to be a lot different from here on.

>Epilogue incoming
>Please remain calm

>>43285625
>from here on, puru.

File: 1400572392111.jpg (1.32 MB, 1600x1200)

1.32 MB JPG

>>43285625
Dominic's counterattack

>>43285625
Did we take more or less than 53 minutes to get there? Because if it's less, we just went FTL.

>>43285625
Oh man did we Boson Jump?

>>43285625
>You're in Jovian orbit.
Wait what? This is just the naked, disembodied forms of our teammates here, right?

>>43285705
Given that we have a HUD, I think we at the very least brought the Liliums with us.

>>43285698
Sort of, in the sense that it fucks with basic physics to the point that the normal rules don't necessarily apply.

For example a micrometeor striking the hull of the Nagato when it's within a Psychofield that reduces or even elminates mass would bounce off, almost regardless of the combined velocity.

Enough Newtypes focusing on one task, on the same "wavelength", with sufficiently refined technology, can do crazy things.

>>43285955
So we created a warp field bubble around Axis that changed the gravitational constant within the field since it was closed off from the universe, and it pushed us to Jovian orbit?

Man, the Jovians are going to be PISSED.
At least we'll have a nice long trip back to Earth.

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>>43285955
So all us and the Zeons and Jovian as will?

>>43285625
>Tau Ceti f
>Five years after Axis Shock

The sight of a terrestrial planet, far larger than Earth, fills the viewscreens aboard the bridge of the repaired and refit Nagato. You stand in awe, realizing the momentous nature of the occasion: in just five years the human race has gone from the brink of self-destruction to colonization of a world eleven light-years from Sol.

The peculiar mechanics of the “Psychofield” have made this possible, allowing humanity to move out of the proverbial parents' basement of Earth orbit to its own new world. The two kilometer long Nagato takes quite a bit of concentration for a series of closely-linked Newtype minds to move at speed, but thanks to a massive investment in the technology and extensive training it's become much easier and more refined of a process than the happy accident that shifted Axis into Jovian orbit five years previously.

It turns out the trick is just to neutralize mass within a given region of space, allowing for impossible acceleration with few if any side effects. Or so Audrey's told you.

In these last five years, the political situation humanity faces has changed the most. The Earth Federation government essentially became irrelevant once the terraformation of Mars was completed. Luna thus became the seat of political power in what was once the Earth Sphere, while Earth itself has become increasingly barren, as predicted. What was less predictable was Artesia's election as the President of the newly formed “Lunar Sphere”.

As for Mars, Lady Mineva has been given a place of leadership in the city of Tycho on Luna, where she has been learning the ins and outs of representative government. She'll make a fine leader one day, and has even taken an interest in boys. Specifically, she has asked Banagher Links and his family to move to Tycho with her.

>>43286126
>Specifically, she has asked Banagher Links and his family to move to Tycho with her.
Adorable. Does big sis Marida chaperon?

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>>43286126
Will not the future I wanted... what are you going to do.

So, this is it huh? The beginning of the end, it's been a wild ride from start to finish but it's been good, gentlemen, anons, I think its finally time for Dom's wild ride to end.

>>43286126
>series of closely-linked Newtype minds to move at speed.

So a navigators from 40k or Dune.

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Even if the author is silenced, the performance is stopped, the story will not end.

Whether it's a comedy or a tragedy, if there is cheering, the story will continue on.
Just like the many lives.
For the us who are still in it and still in the journey, send warm blessings.

---We will continue to walk down this path until eternity.
-
It's been real, guys.
Haman-sama banzai!

>>43286126
War, at least for the time being, is a thing of the past. Much more energy and time is being spent on developing new technologies related to colonizing new worlds. Though it must be said, increasingly miniaturized nuclear reactors have made smaller, lighter mobile suits a possibility. Power armor may not even be too far off, given advances in artificial muscle fibers since the war.

Some of the old factions still exist, but have lost relevance much like the Federation. The Jupiter Empire has lost its stranglehold on the He-3 market, as the debris ring just outside Tau Ceti f's orbit is rich in the critical fuel source. The Republic of Zeon has fared better, becoming a true democracy in the absence of Zabi hardliners and apologists. It seems Cima's "maneuvering" paid off after all.

Anaheim Electronics expanded into the terraforming business, spearheaded by none other than Nina Purpleton. She's out here at Tau Ceti leading a field team, with Kou Uraki providing permanent security. South is here as well, seeking a fresh start as planetary security for the new colony. Together with ALICE and Audrey, Nina's come up with a few basic designs for critical supplies such as industrial facilities and equipment, farming tools and vehicles, habitation blocks, and medical supplies that can be crafted with limited resources from an existing pattern. These have made starting up small cities on alien worlds a much simpler prospect, once the atmosphere and conditions are "corrected" by reverse-engineered versions of the old Zeon terraforming weapon.

For the first time in a long time, it feels like humanity truly has room to grow again.

A little something soothing to accompany the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AQQjltp9HQ

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Posting more Haman.

>>43286356
I wonder if it would be possible to make a fully automated version using AI instead of Newtypes. We know from Dom being able to sense ALICE that AI have a psychic presence, there's no biological chauvinism going on here. And if you're building it from the ground up it should be possible to make a mind that was never going to be anything other than a Newtype processor, making it much more ethical than what was done with the Purus. So maybe an AI processor built directly into a specialized psycoframe, emulating only those parts of the brain needed for running the warp field?

>>43286472
Good idea. Let's have some other appropriate music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1gZXdLciDI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE6SAE1tCEE

Contributing a little James Horner...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTSmtKDvnWQ

>>43286536
Bet the Puru's got jobs handling that sort of thing. Maybe between them and ALICE someone'll make dedicated Jump controllers.

Hope they get proper payment though.

>>43286672
We never actually did anything with the gold you know. We're probably completely loaded

>>43286706
I thought we used it for payroll and expenses in between breaking off from the Titans and getting back working with the Federation again.

>>43286434
Your allies' fates are a mixed case. Char, Amuro, Cima, and even Matsunaga are all listed as “missing in action”, though you suspect their desires were the same as South's. They've been given a chance to start fresh in a peaceful world, so it wouldn't surprise you if Char, Amuro, and Matsunaga leapt at that chance. You can't say you blame them. As for Cima, you know for a fact she's actually alive somewhere.

She'll contact you again if she ever needs you.

Karen is now the Admiral in charge of the small fleet of FTL-capable vessels, commanding from the Nagato which she passed on as your new command. Defrah, Reiko, Catharine, Noel, and Miyu still serve as your bridge staff, and are happy to do so, having had more than their fill of war. Though this gives her more paperwork, Karen only rarely complains about her assignment.

Haman has truly grown into a fine woman over the last five years. Similarly to Artesia, she's been given political authority over the small fleet that travels back and forth between the centers of human colonization, as well as the authority to deal with any negotiations as they arise. This keeps her fairly busy, though her skills in combat have not noticeably deteriorated. She also makes sure to find “family time” despite her obligations.

Marida, Cynthia, and Diana have remained a part of the Fleet. They serve as “navigators” for the three other FTL ships, using their tight bonds and an AI support network crafted from the remaining mental patterns of their sisters to coordinate the fleet's activities and communications even across light years. Like the excited little sisters they are, they can't help but abuse that position to gossip and keep you personally informed about what's going on with their lives. Despite only seeing them occasionally, it's almost like they've never left the ship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO6PCmSFTGM Last one.

>>43286739
Invest in stocks.

>>43286739
Don't think so, we had a ton of spare parts and enough fuel for two years of combat ops.

>>43286768
>Karen is now the Admiral in charge of the small fleet of FTL-capable vessels, commanding from the Nagato which she passed on as your new command. Defrah, Reiko, Catharine, Noel, and Miyu still serve as your bridge staff, and are happy to do so, having had more than their fill of war. Though this gives her more paperwork, Karen only rarely complains about her assignment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdjL8WXjlGI

>>43286768
The non-newtype pilots of the Grim Guard have fared well, aside from the loss of Roberto. Apolly retired from piloting mobile suits, and took up the life of a simple mechanic on Tau Ceti f. He rarely talks about his service record, even to his younger wife, though he often goes drinking with South.

Ilia now serves as the helm officer on one of the ships in the FTL fleet, the one navigated by Marida. She keeps in regular contact, and when the Nagato and her own vessel meet along the same routes she makes sure to visit you and the rest of her teammates.

Emma is now in charge of all the regular mobile suits stationed aboard the Nagato, while you technically command the mobile suits of the entire fleet. She has relaxed over time, and has been thinking about starting a family with an officer who recently transferred to the ship by the name Bekkener.

Christina Mackenzie has retired from piloting, and now teaches middle schoolers on Tau Ceti f. She seems content with that role, and has more than once told you over a glass of whiskey that guiding the new generation is what she's decided to do, in order to make up for the devastation caused by the war to which she was once a party.

Both Serien and Miss Fanning have recovered from their ordeals. Rebecca is living with Natalie Bianchi, as the two of them continue to serve as Lady Mineva's legal guardians. Serien has joined the crew of an FTL ship as a navigator alongside Cynthia, whose company she seems to have taken a liking to. She hasn't piloted a mobile suit since.

>>43286126
>It turns out the trick is just to neutralize mass within a given region of space, allowing for impossible acceleration with few if any side effects.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX1UuJMfQfk

>>43287046

Hamburger still a hamburger.

>>43287104
Well, we can't change that. But hey, Henken survived, that's pretty cool.

>>43287046
Though some of your crew have drifted apart a little over the years, you've all managed to remain closely-linked... none more closely than your fellow Newtype pilots of the Lilium-type gundams.

After the Doctor's death four years ago, from complications due to old injuries and illness, Audrey took over the technical division of the Nagato. In a pinch she'd still rush to be your copilot, throwing everything aside at your word. Emotionally and mentally you've never been more in sync, though she still manages to surprise you.

Rossweisse tried to meet with her mother after the war, only to find that the older woman didn't recognize her. Amnesia, probably post-traumatic. Secure in the knowledge that she was not deliberately abandoned and not wanting to hurt her mother any further, she rejoined your crew. She sends some of her pay every month to help with her expenses. In spite of everything that's happened to her Rossweisse has grown into a quiet, but thoroughly happy and dangerously charming, young woman.

Haman, on the other hand, has something to be jealous of... as do the others in your tightest personal circle: Carrina is expecting. The pressure is officially on, and several minds have turned towards similar thoughts of “settling” and “family”.

As you stand on the bridge of the Nagato, looking out over an unconquered world below, you lean your head against your wife's shoulder. Carrina smiles back at you, her good eye sparkling a brilliant shade of violet in the light of an alien sun. As is so often the case, no words are needed between you.

The war is finally in your past, and your future now seems brighter than ever. And most importantly, you'll never have to face it alone.

>>43287518
>Carrina is expecting

Roberto O'Hara

>>43287518
A happy ending. I love it.

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>>43287518
And that's the end. I hope you enjoyed the ride, and thanks especially to all of you who stuck with me from the beginning. It wasn't necessarily the story I expected to tell at the beginning, when I had no idea how any of this was going to work, but it's done now... and I'm satisfied.

I'll stick around a little while, and any other questions can go up on Twitter or Ask.fm or something if need be. Archive is also up on sup/tg/, tagged predictably as "Shadows of Zeon".

>>43287642
Whatever happened to Glemny and Papsmear?

>>43287642
So wait, what DID happen to Paptimus?
And the aliens didn't make official First Contact after Humanity developed FTL technology?

>>43287668
This is a good question!
Congrats on finishing the quest, boss. It was a wild ride!

>>43287567
>Roberto O'Hara
Yes, Puru!

>>43287642
Thanks for running, Hearts. I've had a blast, and these threads have been one of the highlights of my weeks. I hope to see you again sometime. Bye.

>>43287642
Are Psychoframes just ace custom stuff, or are they on any mass-production models?

>>43287642
Shadows of Zeon the After years

As Roberta Puru O'hara when?

>>43287642
Who's gonna come up with the idea to make the colonies themselves FTL capable first?

>>43287667
I have a hunch they gone to ground, Quattro Bagina style.

>>43287642

What happened to the Titan remnants? Did they reintegrate into the EFSF properly?

And how did the rest of our career with the EFSF work out, or are we with the Luna Sphere SF now.

>>43287642
Thanks for the wild ride!

>>43287642
Thank King of Hearts for Shadows of Zeon Quest and Kancolle: Paradise Arsenal! See you next! Roberta Puru O'Hara the next hero,
Puru!

>>43287696
>>43287732
I predict that some day one of the girls, high on painkillers after a difficult childbirth, will give out a dazed "puru" when asked what she wants to name her daughter. Dominic will find it so funny that he won't stop it from being made official. They will later tell the triplets that it was totally an intentional tribute to them and their lost sisters, definitely not a lie at all.

>>43287790
I forgot about Paradise Arsenal, thanks for reminding me about it.

>>43287667
Died of irrelevance along with the Jupiter Empire. The worst death I could imagine for him to fade into the background with his ambitions dashed.

>>43287697
I'll almost certainly be back. Hell, some of these characters may be back. Never say never and all that.

>>43287707
They're mostly too expensive to put into production for typical pilots. They're seen built into FTL vessels to the extent needed to travel, but mobile suits are becoming rarer anyway and most Newtypes have become increasingly focused on becoming the Navigators.

>>43287642
Thank you for the ride King of Hearts it was a fun ride from beginning to end.

>>43287778
Many of them would have been folded into Luna Sphere, or at least the ones that survived. The survivors of Mars Zeon were allowed to return to help the further terraforming of Mars.