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>>1208658
And that's the end of your records.

“Go ahead and kill the feed, ALICE,” you order. Your AI coordinator complies, passing control back to the transmitting station. Instead of resuming there's a solid tone, suggesting they've gone off the air.

“I wonder what they're going to do next?” Bianca muses to herself. “That was quite a show.”

“We make it a habit of recording all our actions,” you explain, “because it lets us go back and review our performance.”

Well, it's also good for situations like this.

>You may have built some momentum. Make a public appeal for information regarding the Char-pretender.
>There's still the outstanding issue of the G3 gas. Remove that from the equation first, before someone interferes again.
>There may be an opportunity to gather some human intelligence, and Lieutenant Carlyle may know the best place for that.
>Other?

>>1208665
>>There's still the outstanding issue of the G3 gas. Remove that from the equation first, before someone interferes again.

>>1208665
>>There's still the outstanding issue of the G3 gas. Remove that from the equation first, before someone interferes again.

>>1208665
>There's still the outstanding issue of the G3 gas. Remove that from the equation first, before someone interferes again.

>writing

>>1208702
“Okay, let's actually get this done this time,” you sigh, scratching at the back of your head as you turn your attention back to the G3 gas canisters. “Blowing it up is still an option. We could also remove it using beam weapons.”

“What about our Junior MS?” Rossweisse muses. “We could shut down the facility to isolate the G3 from the environmental control system, then remove it manually.”

“Two out of the three possible solutions require us to damage or disable the colony's basic systems,” you reason aloud, “and the third would probably be safer if we disabled the environmental systems just in case. So maybe we should just write off a certain degree of collateral?”

“It seems rather callous,” Rossweisse admits, “but your reasoning is sound.”

“The colonists in the closed side are gonna be pissed,” Carlyle muses.

They're already pissed.

“They're already pissed,” you echo your sister's sentiments. “They've been pissed this whole time, that's why we're in this situation in the first place.”

>Disable this station, then try cutting away the G3 containers with a beam saber.
>Disable the station, then use junior MS to remove the gas more precisely (but slowly).
>Just blast the station and write it off as an unavoidable loss.
>Other?

>>1208711
>>Disable the station, then use junior MS to remove the gas more precisely (but slowly).

>>1208711
>Disable this station, then try cutting away the G3 containers with a beam saber.

>>1208711
>>Disable the station, then use junior MS to remove the gas more precisely (but slowly).
Dunno if this would be enough time for the closed side to mount a response though. I'd normally be favoring speed if that's the case, but it's still deadly gas.

>>1208722
And back on my desktop instead of my phone.

>writing
>dice+3d10, DC 18, Crit 22, Best of 4

Rolled 8, 9, 6 = 23 (3d10)

>>1208761

>>1208762
woo

Rolled 10, 8, 8 = 26 (3d10)

>>1208761

File: 1414343564488.gif (1.84 MB, 1440x1080)

1.84 MB GIF

>>1208762
>>1208766
WELL THEN.

Rolled 5, 8, 6 = 19 (3d10)

>>1208761

>>1208768
I missed that gif from the original quest.
also
LAWDY LAWDY HE IS HEALED!

“We'll need to shut something down anyway,” you sigh. “So let's start there. ALICE, try and find plans for this section and figure out where we need to disconnect this station from the environmental control system. Transmit the results of your search straight to Catrina.”

“Done,” ALICE reports almost immediately. “The information was hardly secured at all. Shall we transmit a warning to the colony that there will be a minor disruption in their air circulation?”

“No,” you shake your head, “at least not just yet. I want to know how much of a disruption there will be.”

“The entire system seems to narrow down to two pipes,” Rossweisse tells you, “one in and one out. It seems like they're actually the same gauge and thickness as one of our standard-issue rocket bazooka tubes.”

Wait... really? That almost seems too convenient.

That might actually be accurate. A lot of these systems seem to be cobbled together, so it could be that those sections of pipe actually ARE recycled bazooka barrels.

“Our bazooka design is directly descended from an old Zeon design,” you muse. “So maybe these systems use similar recycled parts.”

“It's possible,” Rossweisse admits. “Regardless, it should be a relatively simple matter to melt those two pipes, remove the G3 using the junior MS, and subsequently replace the pipes using segments of one of our own bazookas.”

“How long?” you ask.

“Approximately one-point-seven hours,” ALICE informs you. “With a certain margin of error for the human element.”

“Get started then,” you order.

Already ahead of you, sis. I've just cut through the lines with my beam saber and sealed them off with birdlime.

“Excellent,” you nod in satisfaction.

>I'll work in a Junior MS, maneuvering in here may be tricky.
>I'll work on selecting and preparing the replacement pipe sections.
>I'll be on patrol, see to it we aren't disturbed again.
>Other?

>>1208812
>>I'll work in a Junior MS, maneuvering in here may be tricky.

>>1208812
>>I'll work in a Junior MS, maneuvering in here may be tricky.

Okay, going with this.
>3d10, DC 17, crit 22, best of 3

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

>>1208857

>>1208861
ayyy

Rolled 2, 8, 2 = 12 (3d10)

>>1208857

Rolled 4, 4, 5 = 13 (3d10)

>>1208857

>>1208857
...Yeah we're fucked.

>>1208861
>>1208867
>>1208869

Welp

How many of us are leftovers from the original run?

>>1208899
Here's one.

“Okay, I'll take one of the junior MS,” you decide. “It could be cramped in there, so I'll have an easier time getting into position.”

“Understood,” Rossweisse replies. “I'll prepare for your return.”

Several minutes later you depart the Sericea with the remaining junior MS in your compliment, taking up a position above the chamber where the G3 canisters are loaded. The NCO piloting the second machine begins peeling away the heavy metal plating, and you carefully take the sections of plate from him and set them aside. After about twenty minutes of work you've cleared a hole, including parts of a wall that would have made it impossible to maneuver through the deck between the exterior of the section and the compartment containing the gas cans.

“Alright, move in carefully behind me,” you order. “Watch the structural integrity of the deck below us, I have no idea what it's rated for and we took out one of the nearby walls. That can't be good.”

“Roger, ma'am,” the NCO replies, maneuvering behind you.

With a touch of reverse thrust you carefully avoid even touching the deck where it's the least supported. You drift backwards, glancing over your shoulder to make sure there's nothing to bump into in that direction... until you're certain that you've gotten clear enough to allow your teammate to follow suit.

Unfortunately, he makes a critical error: he lands on the floor.

The plate crumples at first, then rapidly buckles under the weight of the junior MS.

“Ma'am!” the man shouts. “Plating breached! One of the gas cans is open and venting!”

You have a split second to make a decision: failure to contain the gas would mean a serious contamination issue that may impact the colony itself if it's bad enough. Or you could order your sister to set off the e-pac aboard the funnel you've left nearby as insurance: the problem with that is that you're danger close. The explosion may damage or even destroy these lightly-built junior MS if you can't maneuver clear enough fast enough, and the only realistic way to do it is straight in reverse down a corridor with poor visibility.

>Try and contain the gas using your two junior MS.
>Set off the e-pac. It's the only way to be sure.

>>1208916
>>Set off the e-pac. It's the only way to be sure.

>>1208916
>>Set off the e-pac. It's the only way to be sure.

>>1208916
>Set off the e-pac. It's the only way to be sure

>>1208916
>>Set off the e-pac. It's the only way to be sure.
Tell the NCO to grab a dismantled plate as a makeshift shield. Something to keep the bubble cockpit unbreached from shrapnel at least.

Rolled 1, 4, 10 = 15 (3d10)

>dice+3d10, best of 4, DC 17, Crit 21

Rolled 9, 7, 2 = 18 (3d10)

>>1208950

Rolled 8, 5, 1 = 14 (3d10)

>>1208950

Rolled 4, 10, 5 = 19 (3d10)

>>1208950
RIP NCO

Can we try to eye, or are we still spent from the last battle?

>>1208964
Still overextended, otherwise I'd have presented the option.
>ready in a moment

>>1208985
Even before you belt out your next order, your machine is already moving in full reverse down the corridor.

“Back off! Blow it, sis! Blow it! Blow it! Blow...”

You're not sure if it's the force of the blast or the collision that you feel, but it's clear that Catrina followed your order. The light is brief but intensely bright, and the pain is immense and immediate. When you come around you're not even in your MS anymore, looking past your boots reveals the crash site. You've gone straight through the broken bubble canopy and skidded across the ground, and the second thing you notice is that not all the cracks you can see are on the MS. You try and raise your right arm to no avail, so you use your left to place one of the clear vinyl seals over the damage to your visor and seal it off, stopping the slow loss of atmosphere from your suit.

“Anyone, report!” you groan, rolling onto your knees. “What's happening?”

You're conscious... good news. The regular comm links are out.

“Good you're inside my brain,” you muse. “Let them know I'm here, will you? My arm's broken and I've lost some oxygen, so I could use a rescue.”

The other junior MS... didn't make it. I'll be in for you in a moment.

“... thanks,” you mutter, staggering to your feet. “Where's my exit?”

Head back to the blast site. Is the junior MS recoverable?

“No,” you sigh after taking a moment to examine the wreckage. “It's a total loss, the mechanics are all shot and its power source is leaking... best to stay clear of that.”

With a lot of careful effort you're able to meet up with Catrina, who carries you back to the Sericea. Glancing back you can see that the facility is gone entirely... regardless of what your goal had been before this will take some explaining.

>Just rest for now, fall back and recover.
>Try and get the president to send in a repair team.
>Keep up the pressure on the Char wannabe.
>Other?

>>1208995
>Keep up the pressure on the Char wannabe.

>>1208995
>>Keep up the pressure on the Char wannabe.

>>1208995
>>Just rest for now, fall back and recover.
At least until we can compensate for the broken right arm.

>>Other?
Still, maintain a ready defense in case the closed side does try to mount an attack.

>>1209006
In with this.
Also
Bill Paxton died. :(

>writing

>>1209022
You practically tumble out of the cockpit, and it takes Catrina a few moments to return to your mind. It's immediately clear that after spending so long in the gundam she's every bit as exhausted as you are.

“Welcome back,” you grumble.

God, it's so much worse in here. I leave for like five minutes and you wreck the joint.

A technician tries to help you leave the hangar but you push him away, insisting that you're not in that bad of a shape. Once out of sight of your subordinates however you simply let Lieutenant Carlyle give you a hand getting to the sickbay. Arriving there you take a seat, and shortly after the ship's medic shows up.

“Just need a tune-up, Doctor Greene,” you tell him, tapping your fingers against your right arm. “It's either broken or dislocated.”

“You blew yourself up,” the doctor sighs. “Good lord, you actually blew yourself up. I don't get paid enough for this.”

The man prods at your arm and you manage to only wince a little, and soon Rossweisse joins you. “Still alive, partner?”

“Somehow,” you shrug with your good arm. “Not the worst explosion I've ridden out... too bad we lost a man. Those junior MS seem to attract bad luck.”

“Well, you're fresh out,” Bianca cocks an eyebrow, “so that's it then. Only good luck from now on.”

“We need to keep the pressure up on the pretender,” you insist quietly as the doctor continues working on your arm. “This can't set us back.”

“Agreed,” Rossweisse nods. “The only question is how.”

>We need to call out the remaining mobile suits somehow.
>My arm's no good for a while, so we need to go to ground.
>We may be able to trace records to narrow down our search.
>Other?

>>1209084
>>We need to call out the remaining mobile suits somehow.

>>1209084
>We may be able to trace records to narrow down our search.
>We need to call out the remaining mobile suits somehow.
A goose chase maybe? Deploy a decoy with the same readout as our MS to get their hotblooded, revenge seeking pilots out of the way?

Though if the rest of their Zakus are intimidated from deploying after that last engagement, I'm not losing sleep over it.

>>1209114
Doing this doesn't sound too bad.

>dice+3d10, DC 18, Crit 23, best of four

Rolled 10, 1, 9 = 20 (3d10)

>>1209137

Rolled 2, 10, 1 = 13 (3d10)

>>1209137
I guess we'll be prepping those missiles too.

>>1209143
>>1209144
So... anyone else?

Rolled 2, 7, 9 = 18 (3d10)

>>1209137

>alright, I'll go with this

Rolled 3, 9, 2 = 14 (3d10)

>>1209137
Am I too late?

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450 KB JPG

“Can we decoy them somehow?” you muse, carefully considering the possibilities. “Draw out a confrontation and observe their movements in response?”

“It should be possible,” Rosweisse admits. “Using the funnels in a tight formation should approximate the signal of the Viola, and we have an MS-shaped dummy aboard.”

“Good,” you nod curtly. “That'll let me do it even with an arm out of action.”

Rossweisse immediately orders the dummy MS brought out into the hangar and inflated, while your technical staff fit four funnels into the shoulders and thighs. Its maneuverability is far from desirable, but should be up to the task so long as it's not engaged directly in combat. You'll also have to keep the glorified balloon moving near the center of the colony cylinder since its maneuverability under even simulated gravity would be atrocious. Of course, since these are beam guns firing back under any circumstances is out of the question.

“Alright, that looks... convincing!” Bianca insists, though her tone makes it obvious she really doesn't think that at all.

“It'll do from a distance,” you shrug. “We're just trying to get a reaction here.”

They're probably terrified as it is. Anything that looks like a threat could get one or two of the more hot-blooded pilots to jump. You remember how guys like that can get.

“Yeah, it's just been a while since we served with one,” you shrug in response to the nonverbal comment. “Everyone in our old unit's kind of cold-blooded, no offense intended. So calculated.”

“No offense taken,” Rossweisse replies coolly. “In fact I take it as a compliment. Ready to launch?”

“Ill need a nap after this,” you sigh, climbing up the ladder to the Viola's cockpit. It's a little more difficult to manage with one arm, but you do so without falling off like an idiot. “But yeah, piece of cake!”

Fruitcake, maybe.

“Yeah, yeah.”

The interior screens come on, and you're treated to the unusual sensation of seeing the display change without any sense of motion. It's more like a complicated videogame than a military operation, and you'll be the first to admit that after about a decade of time in the cockpit the discrepency between action and physical feedback is unnerving.
>1/2

Ahh... I have doubts about this plan now.

>>1209247
All around you... or rather around the decoy... are building after suspicious building. The sensors onboard the funnels only read the typical sort of clutter associated with any tight-packed urban area, the result of tens of thousands living and working stacked on top of each other in conditions little better than those their ancestors were sent up here to alleviate. The air is dirty of course, but the environmental system seems to be holding at least even if one of their control centers was recently demolished in an incident which in no way, shape, or form was your fault.

Kilometer after kilometer, with little evidence that anyone aside from some confused locals have taken notice of your decoy's presence.

Then, a breakthrough.

A rocket shell arcs towards your decoy from one of the colony walls, bursting in the air nearby.

“Jackpot!” you grin. “Anyone got a fix on the firing location?”

I'm feeding sensor data straight to ALICE.
“I am receiving data from Catrina, triangulating origin.”

After a moment ALICE projects a crosshairs onto one of the colony walls. “Here, in this block.”

I've got a second launch!

“There,” you observe, pressing a fingertip against the display near your right thigh. “That was fired from right about here, I was looking straight at it. Mark that location.”

Marking. Third launch, this time from near the first. Marking that one too.

“It seems to have worked,” Rossweisse muses. “Getting a spike in communications traffic, ALICE?”

“Affirmative, it seems someone relayed a cease fire order,” the AI explains, her familiar digital form appearing on your HUD as she speaks. “Sorry though, I failed to pinpoint the source.”

“Those were mobile suit-sized weapons,” you think aloud. “Stands to reason they have their assets spread through the colony in hidden locations. Decentralized except when they're required to sortie.”

“I'm sure we can use that to our advantage,” Rossweisse muses. “Think we should bring in the decoy for now?”

“I do,” you nod, reversing the funnels' course. “They probably realized when we didn't respond to their attack that it was bait. Now we just need to decide how best to exploit their mistakes.”

>>1209302
And that's a wrap for now. Thanks for playing, hope you enjoyed, and I look forward to wrapping up the misadventures in Sweetwater next weekend.

Archive is up for your perusal, and see you next time. Now switching gear for an hour or two of SSQ.

>>1209310
Thanks for running!

Do we have an "in memoriam" for the NCO in the junior MS?