Did your career go down the toilet?
Pike's in prison isn't he?

So that's it? Always feels a little anti-climactic, doesn't it?

Guessing the following weeks were just a case of hunting down the drones, infested, and so on... saving those that weren't too far gone, and putting those that were out of their misery. Taking count of those missing and confirmed dead. Patch up damaged systems and equipment. Not much more you can do.

What a mess. All because of one man's desire for revenge, wasn't it?

'spose that just leaves the matter of how many colonists survived and the results of any investigations into what happened. No doubt those'll take a good while longer, though.

Oh, and whatever happened to those might-have-been-Solar ships, anyway?

>>542166
Whats our tally?

>>542166
You...
You alright, Zane?
D-Did you get promoted?
A medal?
Something!?

>>542166
Tell us all of what happened, Zane. ...and either take off your helmet or open it so that we can see your cute, kissable face.

That's a lot of gravestones. The incident really could have been managed better, couldn't it.

Zane 2013/10/10(Thu)19:42 No. 543698 ID: 67bfa9
File 138145934370.png - (158.24KB , 977x622 , ColonyGuard191.png )

A lot of what happened for the rest of the voyage was a blur for me.

My physical injuries were deep but ultimately not the gravest concern.

for more than a week I lay in the infirmary my thoughts a twisted mess, I could not tell when I was sleeping or when I was awake nor where I was . . . everything became a haze.

but I remembered the Tech-Leech,
and in my mind it followed a new name, the name "Verox" described it to me.
powerful beings from before the age of the alliance . . . years better left forgotten

Nizk claimed that I would scream out in the night, she said I would speak things I shouldn't know . . . and mumble words in languages she's never heard.
If Pike noticed any of this he never said, he only ever delivered his reports and continued his work

Zane 2013/10/10(Thu)19:45 No. 543699 ID: 67bfa9
File 138145950892.png - (217.62KB , 977x622 , ColonyGuard192.png )

as the only two combat active members of my team left, Nizk and Pike took on the duty of protecting the ship.

they spent the rest of the journey searching every square inch of the starboard hub for more of the infected.

and though they found a few in desolate dark corners, mostly all they found was the remains of the dead

and of the dead there were hundred, but there was no flesh, nor bones for the infected creatures had consumed nearly all of it, only bloody scraps of clothing strewn about remained of the victims

of the two thousand, one hundred and eighty five Astranians aboard the "Wishing Star", six hundred and and eighteen had been either slain in a single day.

Zane 2013/10/10(Thu)20:03 No. 543701 ID: 67bfa9
File 138146060398.png - (245.71KB , 977x622 , ColonyGuard193.png )

two hundred and thirty four more would die in the following weeks, a few from the roaming infected, but mostly executed by our own forces

the virus proved too violent and uncontrollable, no treatments seemed to have any effect and those Astranians exposed appeared to be with out cure.

Nizk and Pike felt they had no choice, when signs of mutation developed they acted.

I could hear Nizk sobbing long into the night, I wish I could have left my bed . . . talked to her

Pike had no such reactions, he did his job and delivered his reports.

I will continue these update using unused suggestions, though feel free to provide more or comment as you like

What were your quarantine methods? How did you prevent the virus from infecting all of you?

Um. If they were executing the infected, why were you spared when it seems obvious that the tech-leech had affected your mind?

28.28% civilian casualties from initial encounter.
Further 10.7% casualty rate from cleanup operations.
Final loss rate of 38.99% assuming no further complications or issues.
2 members of a 10-unit squad combat ready, assuming perhaps 4~5 total survivors. Dosk and Huro unaccounted for, presumably also in critical condition.

That probably could've gone better. But it could've gone a whole lot worse, too.

>>543702
>What were your quarantine methods? How did you prevent the virus from infecting all of you?
Astranian Ray-Tech shields! It blocks psychic powers nd plasma bolts, so it should block teeny tiny super viral nanobot infection vectors!

That being said, how did you guys manage to keep the rest of the ship fully functional, much less ableto land safely through an atmosphere with a huge hole in one side?

Were any of the colonists politically important?

Did your superiors get around to providing an update to the mission parameters in light of the events? Did you even ahve long-range comms online?

Did any traces of 'Vorax' infection vectors make it planetside?

Zane 2013/11/07(Thu)09:19 No. 546990 ID: 67bfa9
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the virus appeared to only be effective when directly injected into the bloodstream, remaining uninfected proved to be the least of our quarantine concerns

for Another fifty four Astranians remain missing . . . the captain and Hoft among them

Escape pods don't have the power to escape from a vessel this size, however when attempting to scan for the pods from ours they were no where to be found . . . the Solar ship signatures you detected earlier were also missing.

Zane 2013/11/07(Thu)09:20 No. 546991 ID: 67bfa9
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Preparing for our arrival on Kydalska what remain of the robotic crew begin repairs on the wishing star.

though this is mostly customary as the shield will protect the ship from all atmospheric harm.

there was some debate over whether it was safe to allow the ship to land on the world do to the risk of contagion, however high command believed it containable and we were permitted to land.

Zane 2013/11/07(Thu)09:22 No. 546992 ID: 67bfa9
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when we first arrived we were welcomed as heroes, a ceremony was held to honor those who

had died, and to celebrate a victory over a new alien foe.

And I recovered just enough to partake in this mass funeral where I was given the

official title of "Champion Sergeant", and my squad mates were given other such honors.

It would not last, for when reinforcements from high command arrived on Kydalska they would not view our mission so highly

remember, this happened because your 'commander' decided to keep secret about the fact a monster was there. if you didn't take charge then you all would of been led to your doom by a man blinded by his own petty revenge scheme.

Just follow your orders and give your report to them, no muss no fuss. At this point we'd just like to get all the survivors home. Unless they give you some extreme shit, you have no need to defend yourself. Your standard report will have to do most of the work. Then again, consider hiring a lawyer with experience in war tribunals and shit.

Zane 2013/11/11(Mon)19:51 No. 547675 ID: 67bfa9
File 138422828124.png - (166.33KB , 977x622 , ColonyGuard197.png )

explainations and reports proved useless, for the Commander high command sent had no need for them

Commander Vhannione Ekia, I'd heard of her, at the age of fifty five she's the youngest core-world Commander ever appointed, more importantly she was a ritualist . . . a powerful dangerous one.

that she chose not to interrogate me in person didn't surprise me

nor did it surprise me when she pried apart my mind for answers, after all I'd been mentally compromised . . . the alien had touched my thoughts on three occasions and poisoned it a little more each time . . .

what did surprise me is that even knowing this she chose to not only let me live but to have me continue to fight for the alliance.

in the days to come I'd find out the reason why . . .

Zane 2013/11/11(Mon)19:53 No. 547676 ID: 67bfa9
File 138422843590.png - (176.63KB , 977x622 , ColonyGuard199.png )

but Commander-Ritualist Ekia's actions only continued to shock me.
dis-respect towards the privacy laws was to be expected from a ritualist.

but her handling of Pike was different, she accused him of being behind everything, sabotaging the systems,letting the alien aboard, murdering "the great hero Magmatharius Gore", murdering Kimb and attacking Huro. oddest of all "Witnesses" stepped forward to corroborate her claims . . .

and though her words were convincing to the point even I had struggles arguing them, there were impossibilities I could not dismiss, realities I had been present for.

I wondered if the witnesses were under some sort of ritualistic stupor, but the sneers and looks of disdain they shot at Pike told another story . . .

The next day Pike was shipped off world, where I don't know.

Zane 2013/11/11(Mon)19:56 No. 547677 ID: 67bfa9
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Nizk fared little better

I don't don't know what Commander Ekia found in poor Nizk's head to condemn, maybe the core worlds felt the need to make an example of one of their own. but it mattered little, the hammer fell all the same.

Nizk had broken the law of purity, she had installed a cybernetic up-link in her head to manipulate that bionic limb, by law she was now less than Astranian. if Ekia appreciated all the good Nizk had done and tried to do on board the wishing star she did not show it.

Nizk was enlisted to the robot legion, to serve in the front lines until she dies

strangely enough this didn't seem to bother her, she actually seemed happy . . . it was the first and last time I would see her smile after the incident. she was sent on the shuttle out an hour later.

Damn Pike was made the fall guy, but maybe he was just shipped to some far off world and given a new identity.

And maybe the robot legion isn't such a bad place. I bet there are other cyborgs whom Nizk will go on adventures with and learn what it really means to be Astranian.

E-everyone gets a happy ending right ;_;?

>>547778

No.

There is only grim darkness of the grimdark space.

They better get happy endings, else those fuckwits at command are going to get a very, very strongly worded letter.
(also anthrax)

Purity Laws are bullshit.

Well, it appears that preserving Magmatharius Gore's legend as a Hero of the Alliance is more important to Ekia and her superiors than truth or justice. Not surprising, at all.

And Nizk's fate is unfair but unavoidable. Way too many saw she broke the Law of Purity in the days after she put that bionic arm on for it to be covered up. Whether or not Ekia personally wanted better for Nizk she had to abide by the law. Though serving on the front lines in the Robot Legion sounds tantamount to a slightly delayed death sentence perhaps Nizk will beat the odds and fare better than the 'bots. But it's still bullshit she was sent there.

So what happened to Dosk and Huro? Last we knew they were still alive, albeit seriously injured, when you killed the Infester Lord.

Zane 2013/11/16(Sat)13:32 No. 548447 ID: 67bfa9
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It's been said that traditional medicine is a lost art, if that's true Nizk's devotion to her calling as medic must have given her talents no other Astranians possess.

despite the odds Nizk was able to save Huro's life, or what was left of it.
having lost his right arm and his internal organs charred and broken, an environment suit is the only thing that can keep him alive now.

He will never have a place in Astranian society according to the law of purity, were it not for his status as ritualist perhaps he might have been enlisted to the robot legions as well.

but he is a ritualist so instead his destiny is decreed to serve in my unit until his death.

I never much liked Huro, but I've learned that happens to be something we both have in common.

Zane 2013/11/16(Sat)13:36 No. 548448 ID: 67bfa9
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Dosk found new friends in the form of Paffelienne wine

He blames himself for what happened to Huro and Nizk, Hoft and all the others who lost their lives when the infected made it into med-bay "If only I had held the line" he just mutters to himself.
I've not really found the words to say to him yet . . .

Nizk and and Hoft were his closest friends I'm not sure he'll ever truly recover . . .

Zane 2013/11/16(Sat)13:45 No. 548449 ID: 67bfa9
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Though we lost many friends at least one new comrade was gained.

Robo128 fought effectively and nobly, it also saved my life at least once. I chose to purchase it and enough parts to repair its damage.

Huro thinks it's a risk to have a robot in the unit. but it reminds me of an old friend of mine from my recruiting days, Asnia always liked them . . . she was a silly girl.

>>548447
I thought when Huro was first harmed they were going to regrow his organs, it was going to take a couple of weeks, time everyone knew they didn't have at the time of his injury if the situation got as bad as it did, but from that point doctors thought it was possible to regrow his damaged organs.

I understand that Nizk's cybernetic arm implant became permanent considering what she had to do, but was huro's suit put onto him using the same permanent surgical methods as Nizk's was? Or is it simply too late to regrow organs and prep him for reconstructive surgery? Or does the law dictate that when one has become less than pure Astranian, even for a moment, they will never be allowed to be pure Astranian again, meaning his access to regrown organs and the required healthcare is restricted or even disallowed completely?

A champion, a walking corpse, a drunkard and a robot.
When the unit is brought back to full strenght the rookies are going to have one helluva welcoming committee.

I feel I must restate.
Purity laws are BULLSHIT.

Well, shit. Now what? I hope you get transferred somewhere behind the frontlines. Maybe a guard post.
I'd honestly rather you live Zane, really.

Are you planning on upgrading the robot at all?

If you know already, what's your next assignment/post?

Will you be receiving new recruits for your squad in the near future, as far as you know?

>>548466
>Purity laws = bullshit
Agreed.

so is the ship's reactor sentient now? not sure WHAT that thing that made it not go critical did.

Zane 2013/11/16(Sat)23:36 No. 548650 ID: 67bfa9
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Zane: "Where do I go now? well that's simple . . . I'm going home."

bystander: "You're leaving us?"

Zane: !!!

Zane 2013/11/16(Sat)23:37 No. 548651 ID: 67bfa9
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I turn to see one of the Yerrot colonists standing beside me

Zane: ". . . how long have you been standing there?"

bystander: "long enough to know you've been talking to a tombstone for half an hour."

Zane: ". . . war changes us all"

bystander: "are you really leaving?"

Zane: "The creature isn't the only one of it's kind, the alliance needs me back in the fight."

bystander: ". . . I fought too, alongside Koza back on the WishingStar, he saved my life . . . I want to keep fighting! let me come with you!"

you saw what kind of hell this "job" brings why do you want to go back into it? What can you even do?

What's your name?

Is that something you really want? To devote your life to fighting? Unsure that the next moment may be your last? You see what happened to everyone here... But if you're still that devoted, then what's your name, and what can you do?

>>548651
"You understand that there's a pretty high chance if you come with us, someone will be talking to YOUR grave before you're old? Have you even been to basic/boot camp [or whatever the Astranian equivalent is]?

Also, name and previous profession."

(Eh, seems eager, why not? We were all newbies once, and we need recruits.)

Zane 2013/11/19(Tue)05:47 No. 549076 ID: 67bfa9
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Zane:"this life will chew you up and spit you out, there's no walking away, even if you try you'll never be the same . . . if you even get the chance."

bystander: "Somebody has to fight, or we'll all die"

Zane: "What's your name?"

bystander: "Kion, Lamarus Kion"

Zane 2013/11/19(Tue)05:49 No. 549077 ID: 67bfa9
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Zane:"Well Kion, welcome aboard"

Kion: "what did mean when you said you were going home earlier, I thought you were needed back in the fight!"

Zane:"I meant what I said."

Kion: "more gladiatorial blood sports?"

Zane: "no . . . this time I have something else to fight."

Zane 2013/11/19(Tue)05:57 No. 549078 ID: 67bfa9
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THE END . . .


Zane's story will be continued in PinkskinQuest Level3

>>549078

*Standing ovation*

[Wild cheering]

Woo~ It's finally done with!

???? 2013/11/21(Thu)22:16 No. 549433 ID: 67bfa9
File 138510098093.png - (9.75KB , 977x622 , ColonyGuard208.png )

meanwhile, far away . . .

Infected: " . . . Dina"

???? 2013/11/21(Thu)22:17 No. 549434 ID: 67bfa9
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Infected: " Dina . . . I need you"

Anithia: "You are finally free, does this not make you happy?"

Infected: "what joy is there in freedom, when all your brothers and sisters lie in chains."

Anithia: "you're just among the first"

Infected: "Dina?"

???? 2013/11/21(Thu)22:17 No. 549435 ID: 67bfa9
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Anithia: "Don't worry, we'll free them all."

to be continued . . .

>>549435

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNN

Great show ol' bean. Bravo!

Seriously nice work, man. I really liked the pacing with this one. Shit got DONE.

Infestor/HoftQuest WHEN!?