>>1748955
>>Call for Catrina to shadow the van, but you want to see who these guys take you to meet.
If it looks like they'll be pulling into some isolated outskirt or out of the city, let Catrina have free reign.

Not sure where to go as of yet, but I need to switch computers, so I'll be back in a bit ;)

>>1749008
I'm good with this.

>>1749008
>>1749060
>writing

>>1749066
Yay. How was your dinner?

>>1749083
Quick, filling, and tasted alright. Scratched a particular itch.

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>>1749066
You eventually settle on complying for the time being. If these SWAT officers were really up to anything nefarious they'd either have you cuffed or zip-tied already, treating you as a suspect. In all likelihood what they've been ordered to do is present you to speak with someone.

And as much as you'd be nervous otherwise, you really need to know who that is.

“Alright, let's do this,” you sigh as you're lead to the back of the van. Plates look good, nothing seems off at all so far. “One thing, no bindings. I tend not to respond well to that you see.”

Sis, what the hell are you thinking? your sister demands.

You focus on responding. Patience, dear sister. I want to know what's going on here, so I'm letting them think I'm complying.

Do you want me to shadow you?

That'd be best I think, you respond carefully.

The van's doors close.

“We're taking you to speak with someone,” one of the SWAT officers informs you, pulling down his wool facemask. “Apologies, ma'am.”

“I suspected as much,” you admit, “if I wasn't interested in figuring out the who and the why I wouldn't have let you drag me off.”

The men remain silent for nearly twenty minutes, which you count off by looking at the watch of the man sitting opposite you.

Finally your police 'escorts' stop the van, and lead you out the back. You find yourself in an enclosed parking lot, probably below 'ground' level. The SWAT officers guide you down the aisle to a long black vehicle, with dark tinted windows.
>1/2

>>1749185
>3d10, DC 17, Crit 21

Rolled 9, 6, 10 = 25 (3d10)

>>1749206
Oh boy, vehicle switch.

Rolled 1, 6, 7 = 14 (3d10)

>>1749160
I know how that is. Every so often I'll get an itch for salted peanuts, and just devour a 1lb bag in no time at all...
>>1749206

>>1749218
Nice roll, anon!

And hopefully was Catrina able to relay our situation with Artesia and Cima. Or Rossweisse back at the ship.

>>1749222
Thanks.

>>1749185
Inside you're faced with a somewhat heavy-set man, seated facing forward in the back seat of the vehicle which you're forced to sit facing. On the seat next to him is a leather attache case, presumably full of paperwork of some kind. His hairline is already receding, but underneath all hat tub is some actual muscle.

But still, he strikes you as painfully... for lack of an easier way to say it, bad. Something about the way he dresses, the way he carries himself, his sneer. Everything about him is a warning that he's just a fundamentally bad person.

“So?” you ask. “Who...”

“Shhhh...” the man insists. “You are Captain Marsielle, of the Colony Transit Fleet?”

“Yes,” you reply. “You have me at a...”

The man shushes you a second time. “And you were investigating Senator Hawke, correct?”

“I was,” you tell him, suspecting that he already knows the answer. “What does...”

“See, Senator Hawke is... was, rather, an important business contact in Von Braun,” the man explains to you. “To many parties interested in the design and trade of military machinery, he was a mover and shaker in the field. Much of what he was involved in was of dubious legality of course, but it had its own important place in things.”

“And... now he's dead.”

That's a seemingly rare invitation for a response. “Yes. He shot himself in the mouth rather than surrendering.”

The man sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Do you have any idea how much of a pain in the ass you've become?”

>Not my problem. Gimme something to talk about that IS my problem and we'll talk.
>Maybe half the size of the problem you're making for me. That'd be my guess.
>So who the hell are you and why should I give a shit?
>Other?

>>1749313
>>Maybe half the size of the problem you're making for me. That'd be my guess.

>>1749313
Judging from how it reached the point where it's this guy that comes in to tell us that (after a few other people already went through the trouble of mentioning it), I'd say quite a substantial amount.

>>Maybe half the size of the problem you're making for me. That'd be my guess.
>>So who the hell are you and why should I give a shit?

>3d10, dc 18, no crit

Rolled 5, 10, 3 = 18 (3d10)

>>1749384

>>1749417
Well, 18 was what I asked for.

>>1749421
I live to serve

Rolled 7, 6, 5 = 18 (3d10)

>>1749384

>>1749384
“My guess is half the size of the problem you've caused me,” you retort, “Mr. Vist, I presume?”

The man's smirk becomes a frown. “And what problem would that be, Captain?”

“All of the fucking terrorism,” you scowl, locking eyes with the man. “I'd assume your family is still heavily involved in damn near everything these days?”

“And why would you make that assumption?” he replies.

“You keep prattling on and on about the weapons business,” you explain with a hint of self-satisfaction at using his own words to catch him. “Which means you've probably got involvements there. It's not hard to figure out.”

“And what makes you think we're involved with terrorists?” Vist demands, narrowing his eyes like a cornered animal probing for weakness.

>We've done our homework, Vist. Like I said it's not hard to figure out.
>I've seen evidence of your financial dealings. You're tied to a LOT of sketchy shit.
>We don't know, not right now. But we worked with Syam years ago, we know your game.
>Other?

>>1749478
>>We've done our homework, Vist. Like I said it's not hard to figure out.

>>1749478
>>We've done our homework, Vist. Like I said it's not hard to figure out.

>>1749478
>We've done our homework, Vist. Like I said it's not hard to figure out.

>>1749495
>>1749546
>3d10, DC 17, Crit 21

Rolled 6, 7, 2 = 15 (3d10)

>>1749581

Do you have problems with users rolling multiple times if there aren't enough rolls with us just rolling once?

Rolled 10, 1, 5 = 16 (3d10)

>>1749581

>>1749636
I mean, give it a bit. I'd say if you go 15 minutes without seeing anyone else bite go for it.

>>1749636
Hey, go for it man.

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

>>1749581
>>1749639
Okay, I'll go bite again.

>>1749782
desu I'd rather his roll, in all honesty...I'm distracted by my air conditioner pissing condensate down my wall right now, anyway.

>>1749795
baka desu senpai
dat wordfilter tho

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>>1749795
“We've done our homework, Vist,” you explain, placing careful emphasis on the collective. “Like I said it's not hard to figure out.”

Vist reaches one large hand into his bag. “Is that so, Captain?”

“It is,” you reply, locking eyes with the man. “So I'd leave your little purse-gun where it is if I were you. Wouldn't do you any good even if I let you put a round into my head.”

The man pauses, then his hand grasps something. He slowly produces a set of papers from inside the leather bag. “I suspected you'd be trouble for me. That's why I took the liberty of preparing these documents.”

“What documents would those be?” you ask, interested for the first time in what Vist is saying.

“Everything relating to this 'mystery ship' of yours,” he practically taunts you. “Crew registry, manifests, her charter, her mission. Everything.”

Suddenly... you find yourself paying very close attention.

“All the details? So you do work with remnants from the Jovian system,” you muse thoughtfully to yourself.

Did I hear you right? He has the goods?

He may be a sleazebag, and he'd gladly shoot me if he thought it'd make the problem go away. But I don't sense that he's lying.

“So what do you say, Captain?” Vist asks. “Are you interested?”

>Alright, what do you want in exchange?
>Alright, I think we can work with this.
>Sorry, but no. I have principles.
>Try to cheat, use your eye hax.

>>1749861
>>Try to cheat, use your eye hax.
...As if we'd really ever choose anything else, King. I mean...Really.

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>>1749888
Whoops, forgot my pic.

>>1749861
>>Try to cheat, use your eye hax.
Let's fucking go.

>dice+3d10
DC is 18, Crit is 22, and it will be the best of four.

Rolled 3, 7, 10 = 20 (3d10)

>>1749978

Rolled 4, 3, 9 = 16 (3d10)

>>1749978

>>1749978
... you guys want I should roll too to move things along?

Rolled 4, 1, 8 = 13 (3d10)

>>1749978
>>1750041
I'll give it one go.

Rolled 4, 1 = 5 (2d6)

>>1749978

Rolled 3, 7, 5 = 15 (3d10)

Oops

>>1749978

>writan

Rolled 5, 2, 8 = 15 (3d10)

>>1750054
You carefully raise your eyepatch, glaring straight into the eyes of the man sitting across from you. But you're not looking at him at all, or even at anything in the car period. You select the most obvious future, the one where you agree to all of the man from the Vist foundation's deal. He offers a trade: one favor now for a favor later, which is a hell of a risk for you.

Then you see that he's taking his sweet-ass time actually handing over the files... that bastard's going to make you swear up and down just to take a peek at the cover page!

So instead you try another option: the one where you kick him in the throat, grab the gun from his man-purse, and put a round into his temple. You only get a glimpse of the files before you feel the exhaustion beginning to set in, but one key piece of information jumps out at you.

>K2-18b (EPIC 201912552b)

That's the name of an exoplanet of course, and not a system you recognize as having been settled already. The star's name is K2-18, and this would make it the second planet in the system... a target for colonization?

You tug the patch back down over your eye, and take a few moments to collect your thoughts.

“Sorry, Mr. Vist,” you apologize firmly, “but I can't take that sort of offer. I may look like I'm in this all on my own, but even a Captain takes her orders from somewhere. For once I have to admit I just don't have the authorization.”

Vist's expression visibly darkens... you don't have to be a Newtype to see the change. “What do you mean, you don't have the authorization?”

You meet his hiss with a shrug, repeating your earlier line. “I guess you're going to be dealing in favors. Well my superiors know your organization's 'proclivities', and they would never authorize a tit-for-tat deal with you.”

“You're asking for something I couldn't deliver even if I wanted to cut a deal. It's just the realities of business, Mr. Vist.”

“That's certainly not the answer my organization expects,” Vist insists, his ire rising. “Reconsider.”

“No,” you reply sternly. “My position won't change... and I suggest you let me walk away.”
>QM rolling this time
>You have three chances to beat my roll

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

>>1750118

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

>>1750118
>>QM rolling this time
>>You have three chances to beat my roll
>Rolled 5, 2, 8 = 15 (3d10)
Oh dang.

Rolled 6, 5, 2 = 13 (3d10)

>>1750118

>>1750142
For a moment your gazes lock one final time. Your own good eye may leave you at a two-to-one disadvantage, but you more than make up for it with both an iron will and the certainty of your position. To illustrate your point you chuckle grimly.

“You have a nice ride, Mr. Vist,” you joke, “but remember my ride is seventeen meters of psychically-attuned, armor grade metal piloted by a very protective sibling.”

Hooah!

“You don't have a position to bargain from,” you conclude. “I'm getting out and walking away.”

With that pronouncement you open the car door, glance around, then step out into the parking garage.

“You'll regret this one day,” Vist sneers.

“What, for letting you live you little slimeball?” you smirk. “Yeah, probably for one day. Then I'll probably forget you and your little empire exist, on to bigger and more important business.”

“Syam would kick your butt,” you add as one last twist of the proverbial knife before making a beeline for the SWAT van.

“I want my gun back,” you grumble, “and get me the hell out of here before I change my mind and blow that fucker's brains out on general principle.”

“It went that well?” what looks to be the senior officer present chuckles. “Well, can't say I blame you. We'll head topside... you got someone waiting I take it?”

You nod. “Yeah, my sister. Just... try not to panic when you see her, okay? She's a little conscious about her image these days...”

Oh boy, they have no earthly idea...

>>1750180
>You nod. “Yeah, my sister. Just... try not to panic when you see her, okay? She's a little conscious about her image these days...”
>Oh boy, they have no earthly idea...
I died.

>>1750180
And that's where I'll be closing for the evening. Archive is up, thanks for turning out, and hope you enjoyed the read!

Continuation probably for Tuesday or Wednesday night, or at least that's what I'm aiming for.

>>1750185
Thanks, and see ya on the next!

By chance, was that guy Alberto Vist? Or is the family such a huge dynasty that going for an OC would suit the purpose just as well? Though I reckon from the interaction, it was addressed in a manner the same as saying any government suit is the "G-Man".

>>1750199
It was indeed Alberto, a real piece of shit.

>kicking it back off in a half hour

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>>1750180
And of course when they see your mobile suit touching down to pick you up, the SWAT officers who escorted you out of the parking garage lost their shit immediately.

“That's a gundam!” one observes aloud like an idiot.

You nod in agreement. “Yes. Yes it is.”

“This sister of yours... she brought a gundam to pick you up?”

“No,” you shake your head, “she was shadowing the van the whole time. And that's her body.”

“I... see. Okay. Right. I believe that.” Despite his words, it's clear from his tone that either the seniormost SWAT officer doesn't or can't believe what you're telling him, so you let the point drop.

“I assume I'm free to leave?”

“Yeah, sure,” he nods with a blank expression. “Go right ahead. Sorry for any inconvenience.”

That went about as well as I expected.

“Oh, I dunno,” you shrug as your sister lowers the cockpit hatch and extends one hand to lift you up with. “Could've been worse.”

Immediately upon settling into your seat, you notice a message from Rossweisse and bring her up on your main viewscreen.

“There you are... we lost contact with you,” she greets you with a sigh of relief.

>Strange... is there any way a conventional jammer could have worked?
>Well, it WAS Vist. I'd be more surprised if they didn't find a way to jam us.
>Other?

>>1758038
>>Well, it WAS Vist. I'd be more surprised if they didn't find a way to jam us.

>>1758038
>>Strange... is there any way a conventional jammer could have worked?
I know Vist ain't conventional, but by "how much at this point" is the question.

>“That's a gundam!”
RIP SWAT dude

>>1758038
“I'd be surprised if they didn't have some sort of way to jam our communications,” you sigh, settling in for a conversation.

How is that even possible? your sister wonders loudly.

“How should I know,” you shrug dismissively. “Technology swings the other direction, it was bound to happen sooner or later. The important thing is that we caught on.”

“I guess,” Rossweisse admits. “I suppose the Vist Foundation has been investing heavily in countering Newtype technologies over the years.”

“But to what end?” you wonder aloud.

Probably because they hate us.

“My guess is that we are too strong an influence for their schemes,” Rossweisse offers. “Whatever those might be. So what did they even want?”

“It was an offer for information,” you explain. “They tell us what they know about our mystery ship, and in exchange they get a favor. The intent was probably to get us to just give up if we ever caught them at something illegal.”

“I take it you didn't agree?”

“Of course not,” you sigh. “It's not even a question of authorization, that just seems like a horrible deal.”

“So then, what's the next move?”

>I guess we need to tie off loose ends with Artesia before we can move on.
>The next move has to be going after the Jovians.
>Other?

>Apologies, getting significant delays on my end

>>1758289
>>I guess we need to tie off loose ends with Artesia before we can move on.
Finish things here.

>>1758289
>>I guess we need to tie off loose ends with Artesia before we can move on.

>writing

>>1758361
The next thing you need to take care of is tying things off with Artesia, who seems happy to see you return safely from your meeting but remarkably less than thrilled to hear that the Vist Foundation had gotten involved. And if you were in her position you'd be pretty concerned with it as well: the amount of money those people can throw around, their interconnected web of contacts and connections, and their willingness to call on those things make them truly dangerous. They were the ones who secretly procured, modernized, and armed the massive helium carrier which still serves well as your fleet's flagship and can be counted among the most heavily armed warships in service.

So what could they do as your enemies?

“I don't like this situation,” Artesia admits to you, now seated behind a more official desk in a new office. “It never occurred to me that Vist might be the ones pulling Hawke's strings, but the possibility is deeply disturbing.”

“Are you speaking as a friend, or as Intelligence Division Zero?” you ask, rather more pointedly than you intended. But your old friend takes it in stride.

“Both, of course,” she replies carefully. “Those two sets of concerns overlap.”

“What do you want to do about it?”

Artesia sighs, standing up and drawing the blinds. “What I want is to destroy the Foundation's base of financial support. Render them completely ineffective as a political force. But right now I don't actually know where we'd start that process.”

“That doesn't leave us much,” you frown. “Then what we have to go on is the Jovian system, our belief that they're involved in all of these terrorist attacks.”

“I guess so,” Artesia nods. “If I get any more detail I'll share it with you... once I go through the motions of having the intelligence processed of course. I'm afraid we have our own protocol.”

You assure her that's perfectly understandable... after all you have your own, similar constraints.

>Ask Artesia for any relevant intelligence from her own service.
>Push for some military support. The Jupiter Fleet was once powerful, but now they're desperate.
>Ask Artesia to come along with you. Her name still carries some weight in diplomatic circles.
>Take your leave for now.

>>1758444
>>Push for some military support. The Jupiter Fleet was once powerful, but now they're desperate.
While its tempting to get the band back together, I think this is the best option.

>>1758444
>>Ask Artesia for any relevant intelligence from her own service.
I assume Syam might be gone already by this point.
Could be likely that there's an internal schism in their group. I doubt the Vist Foundation would go down this route without Cardeas' say so at least. I'll probably need to archive dive just to make sure.

Also, ask if there's anyone on Luna's watchlist (groups, businesses, persons of interest etc.) that ever gone to K2-18b (EPIC 201912552b). More longshots ahoy!

>>Push for some military support. The Jupiter Fleet was once powerful, but now they're desperate.

>dice+3d10
I'll take the best of three or start writing in 15 minutes, whichever happens first.

Rolled 6, 2, 1 = 9 (3d10)

>>1758488

>>1758497
rip

Rolled 10, 5, 7 = 22 (3d10)

>>1758488

>>1758509
ayy

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>>1758509
Nice, have a woundwort.

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>>1758509
“I did have one more question,” you muse quietly. “This has to be off the record, or else just for your own records.”

“I can't promise the former, but I can agree to keep it quiet,” Artesia replies carefully. “What's the problem?”

“What was the system?” you ask aloud.

K2-18, your sister reads from her own records.

“That's right,” you nod. “K2-18b, also known as EPIC 201912552b. Do you think you can run a detailed search of Luna's records for that planet?”

“Why?” Artesia asks, already setting to work at her own computer station. “What's significant about it?”

“It came up in the meeting with Vist,” you reply. “I used my eye to take a peek at the intelligence the Vist representative was going to show me.”

“Broken,” Artesia mutters, typing in the string of numbers and asking for you to repeat it once. “K2-18b, terrestrial world, range of one hundred and eleven light-years from Sol. Long range sensor sweeps and radiotelescope telemetry indicate the planet orbits within the Goldilocks zone, but that the star itself is older than initial investigations in the pre-UC era suggested.”

“Have there been any manned missions?” you ask. “Any flybys?”

“None,” Artesia informs you. “At least none by Luna, and none in the public record by anyone else. I'm guessing you have your own doubts about that?”

“I always have doubts,” you admit. “What can we do in terms of getting a military escort from this point on? We've only got one ship... as tough and capable as she is Sericea just isn't enough for a stand-up fight.”

“Well,” Artesia smiles proudly. “I think I've got a solution for you.”

“And that is?”

She flips around her desktop monitor.

“Hello, Captain.”
>1/2

>>1758611
>“Broken,” Artesia mutters
Ain't it just?

>>1758611
“I heard you were going it alone,” Haman muses playfully, arms crossed and a smile on her face. “And I've been getting ever so bored of the diplomatic routine.”

“People have already forgotten she's a trained combat pilot,” Artesia explains.

“I was gonna get to that!” Haman protests, before huffing in indignation. “Artesia called me in, said you could probably do with some assistance and that she had a job to finish on Luna. So I agreed. I figured I could use a chance to shake some of the dust off.”

“So, Captain Marseille-O'Hara,” she concludes, “where are you thinking we need to go?”

>To the Jovian System. We need to figure out what their involvement in all this has been.
>To K2-18b. I want to know what's there, why Vist and maybe the Jovians were interested.
>Haman, I appreciate the gesture... but wouldn't your skills be better used somewhere else?
>Other?

>>1758649
>>To K2-18b. I want to know what's there, why Vist and maybe the Jovians were interested.

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>>1758649
>>To K2-18b. I want to know what's there, why Vist and maybe the Jovians were interested.

>>1758649
“We're going to K2-18b,” you decide in that exact moment. “We need to know what Vist and the Jovians expected to get out of all this, and K2-18b may just have the answers we're looking for. So that's where we go, to find proof of what they've been up to.”

“That may just be the best plan,” Artesia agrees. “If you actually succeed, we might be able to get enough evidence to put the Vists out of business.”

“And the Jovians are the other oldest cartel,” Haman adds thoughtfully. “Getting both organizations at once... I think that prospect leaves us little choice.”

“Rossweisse, you've been listening I take it?” you ask aloud.

“I have. ALICE is plotting a course, early indication is a flight time of six days,” your partner reports.

That's not exactly a short trip.

“We'll reprovision for three weeks,” you announce. “Haman, we'll rendezvous before leaving the system, ALICE will send you the coordinates.”

“Rossweisse, I'll rely on you to oversee planning and coordination, I'll handle provisions.”
>1/2

>>1758747
The first four days of the flight are thoroughly forgettable. The highlight is that you, Bianca, and Rossweisse put on an impromptu jazz recital as Sericea cuts through the interstellar void without a care for millions of kilometers around and nothing really to look at other than the stars as they slide by in their anonymous multitudes.

But the, rather abruptly, that almost relaxed posture changes.

“Are you getting the same?” Haman asks over the comms network. There's an unusual amount of static there, as if something is interfering with the transmission of newtype brainwaves from ship to ship.

“We are,” Rossweisse reports as you glance out the viewport at Haman's vessel, Sadalahn, a smooth and refined design more reminiscent of Zeonic warships than Sericea and about twice her tonnage. Sadalahn as well has been built with mobile suits in mind, with two ramps and space to carry and care for four such weapons.

“It's almost as if we're passing through an area of turbulence,” you muse. “But that should be impossible.”

“Well, it hardly seems impossible now,” Rossweisse points out.

“She's got a point Carya,” Haman agrees, having gone back to the more familiar use of given names in the days since your reunion. “I feel we should slow our speed to three-quarters.”

“Agreed” you nod curtly. “If it gets stronger we'll take further action.”

And of course, it does get stronger the closer you get to K2-18b. Sericea is buffeted for hours on end, like she's being driven forward by a massive internal combustion engine that's been mounted directly to her structural frames. It's a rough vibration, almost tooth-chatteringly powerful and absolutely unending. Your ships are forced to reduce speed to two thirds, then eventually to half. Finally, a full thirty-six hours behind schedule, the vibrations cease as suddenly as they appeared.

“Seems we're finally clear,” you nod to Rossweisse, who reports the change in security level to the ship's crew.

“A lot of people will be happy to hear that,” she sighs in relief. “It was getting hard for some of them to keep food down.”

A frantic tone quickly fills the inside of the cockpit.

“ALICE?” you demand. “What's happening?”

"Captains, recommend all stop."
>2/3

>>1758778
Once the order is given, you tell Haman to do the same. Sadalahn comes to a stop in space, then reverses thrust to rejoin you after having overshot.

“We're still well out-system,” you muse. “ALICE, why are we stopped?”

Rossweisse taps you on the shoulder, the points out the front viewscreen.

“What do you notice is missing?”

Squinting, you shake your head. “Nothing...”

Then it hits you like a ton of bricks... those poor bastards. No wonder nobody's heard any reports about the K2-18 system.

“It's gone,” you realize aloud. “The star is gone... must've happened just in the last twenty years or so based on where we picked up that turbulence.”

“And we wouldn't see it with conventional sensors,” Haman adds. “It's too recent. We're still seeing emissions from a hundred and eleven years ago. Whoever came here...”

“Did not realize there was no star anymore,” Rossweisse completes the thought.

“Incorrect,” ALICE interrupts your profound realization, and the resulting contemplative thoughts about the nature of time and perception. “Sensors still indicate the presence of a body massive enough to generate gravity in the location where K2-18 should be. Only, the amount of mass is... excessive.”

“Are you saying that K2-18 is a black hole?” you ask incredulously. “I didn't think it had the mass for it.”

“It appears that someone, at some point in the process, was mistaken,” ALICE summarizes.

“What in the hell is going on here?” you wonder aloud. For several long moments you and your companions stare at the spot where you now understand there to be a black hole, wondering how this all fits into the grand web of schemes... and mostly drawing blanks.

>>1758801
And that's the cliffhanger for this week.

Thank you both for coming back for the continuation, and I hope to see you all on Sunday where this should start making a bit more sense.

Well ain't that some shit.
>Jazz in space
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00nvJv6gno4 relevant!
Good thread, King, glad to see that you're still plugging away at this even though there aren't too many players anymore :/

>>1758807
That Alberto. If he's in the know, letting us warp headfirst into a blackhole would conveniently take care of loose ends. Thank goodness for having three Newtypes for this mission.

Are we gonna dive into some Interstellar territory now, losing weeks/months/years depending on the proximity?

>>1758852
That's a risk, but not one anyone involved would be keen to take.

Any more than that would be spoilers.

MUUUUURRRRPH

So I just finished bingeing the SSQ archive a few days ago, and I loved it. I'm somewhat interested in reading this too because King is a top QM, but the only Gundam I've ever seen is seed, but that was years ago, and a bit of 008th MS. Which series would I have to know to understand what's going on here? Or does it make sense to just dive in blind? Because I don't think I can bring up the dedication to watch god knows how many gundam series.

>>1762476
Just to clarify, I do like Gundam and have been interested in getting into it for a while now, but it's just so. fucking. much.

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>>1762476
>>1762478
>Which series would I have to know to understand what's going on here?
Given the sheer volume one would need to sift through in the Universal Century Gundam timeline, I'd say a short, bulletpoint summary or wiki assisted familiarity on the general setting, background, and characters within would suffice.

It's pretty much what I did when the prequel for this ran, since King also pulled some material in U.C. that I wasn't very familiar with before. Kinda like with SSQ where anything outside the Bleach manga (i.e. anime filler), I just use wikis to get a general idea of who/what/where, but rely mainly on what's written in the quest and the context.

Though, you can probably ignore most of F-91 (save for the mech designs and *maybe* Jovians) and all of Victory Gundam. And G-Saviour, but nobody ever talks about that anyway.

The direction pretty much jumped track from the beginning of the prequel quest compared to the canon material, so diving in blind is just as understandable. I think getting familiar with how the characters were written previously and what they went through would be a better starting point and help out more in understanding the stuff here.

The archive link, just in case.
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Shadows%20of%20Zeon

Also, 8th MS Team is top tier.

>>1762551
Aight, thanks for the detailed answer. I think I'll be getting a general idea, start reading the quest and watch the different anime 1 by 1 whenever I have the time and feel like it.

Cheers!

>>1762650
I can get you a fairly detailed rundown when I'm back on my home machine.

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>>1762476
>>1762650
Alright, so here's what's going on. The most critical aspect is what Newtypes are: I settled on something like Char's Counterattack, which treats Newtypes and technologies designed around them as the first steps into a realm of human potential that literally nobody understands or ever expected. In SoZ this manifested as accidentally bending space to effectively exceed the speed of light by using something similar to the "Axis Shock" phenomenon. And since the Earth Federation quickly became politically impotent, nobody put a freeze on development of that technology like what happened in canon. There's also a touch of Thunderbolt in there, with some particularly powerful Newtypes displaying abilities which go beyond the "baseline" abilities displayed by Char and Amuro in the anime/film canon. For example Carya's eye, the one she usually keeps covered by an eyepatch, can see potential futures much further ahead than the "negative response times" displayed by all Newtypes. Dominic, the main character from the previous quest, has such high "newtype brainwave" output that he unknowingly activates similar brainwave output in anyone exposed to him for too long.

In terms of mobile suit design, the main influences are Zeta and Advance of Zeta: the current Gundam design in operation here is based on the Woundwort. The other important influence is Sentinel, which introduces AI in the character of ALICE. The mobile suit Carya and Catrina use has a storage matrix for an AI which Catrina has been abusing, ALICE herself is the support AI for the fleet they operate as a part of, and other "dumb AI" based on the original ALICE help manage the infrastructure of human colonies.

Beyond that it's mostly the result of the decisions made in the original SoZ, which included plot elements from several Universal Century series but took things in kind of a wild direction. Humans have spread to several star systems and established colonies using terraforming equipment (which is actually a manga-canon development pioneered by Zeon) and pre-fabricated city blocks based on colony cylinders. If you want to know what the influence was for how that whole process works, it was pretty heavily Frank Herbert.

In terms of things to watch for the current quest, I'd suggest the Original, Zeta, and Char's Counterattack. ZZ is more relevant for the previous quest, Thunderbolt is a short watch that's relevant for two characters that appear in season two, and Advance of Zeta and Sentinel are more like design porn anyway so that takes little to no time. The two relevant characters from AoZ are fairly different in SoZ than the source material anyway.

>>1763068
>>1762650

And Gundam Unicorn, which is also a relatively short watch, for background regarding the Vist Foundation. Also showcases the extent of power in pairing talented Newtypes with technology developed for them.

The presence of teen Mineva and an adult Puru/Marida doesn't hurt either.

>>1763134
Fair call on Unicorn, but I'd caution that in the grand scheme of things it's mech porn with very little bearing on anything else in the setting.