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File 136262682665.png - (21.25KB , 700x700 , 166.png )
498405 No. 498405 ID: c4e5c2

"Make sure your feet are planted. It's as important as using spears."
"I... not sure if agree."
"You'll agree when you fire. Only fire a couple shots. We're only using enough ammunition so you know what firing feels like."
"This is how booming death is? Pulling the tiny lever?"
"If you don't respect the gun, I'm going to get off your shoulder and watch in safety while you shoot your foot off."
Understand.
"It's understood."
"Understood."
"Hold it firmly. Don't tense up and clutch it, just keep it steady, before, during and after it fires."
Expand all images
>>
No. 498406 ID: c4e5c2
File 136262685120.png - (59.86KB , 950x500 , 167.png )
498406

BAM

"... will agree. Hits shoulder hard, and noise is... deafening."
"You'll get used to it."

Maybe not. This thing could probably tear my head clean off. Cleanly, If I'm lucky. I don't know if I would have let him fire if I knew it was going to wake the dead in every cave corner for a kilometer off. Or just alert the enemy if I want to be realistic.
>>
No. 498410 ID: d6ef5d

Well, to be fair, you're up against the salikai and who knows what mad science. The enemy you wake could very well be the walking dead.

Status report? How long has it been since you fought your way into the cave? Have you reunited with the others and retreated deeper yet? Has Rokann been subjected to battlefield surgery and debugging yet? How's your arm?
>>
No. 498412 ID: 6dc5a6

Encounter any metal bugs yet?
>>
No. 498417 ID: 9ddf68

So you still up shit's creek without a paddle or did you upgrade to shit's creek with a paddle (hows the situation, still bad or getting better)
>>
No. 498420 ID: f2c20c

We might want to relocate and/or continue moving to find our allies, if we just made a huge noise. Are we leaving tracks behind at all?
>>
No. 498432 ID: c4e5c2
File 136263360874.png - (28.50KB , 700x700 , 168.png )
498432

>Status report?
The time is 22:00. We entered the cave somewhere around 17:30. We're getting ready to go to bed.

We reunited with the group, and have moved far deeper into the cave. We settled an hour ago without running into any enemies, be they voklit, arkot hunter hive or bugs. The ground is too rocky for us to leave tracks, too. We don't know if we're in a deadend, or for that matter, if this spot is even a decent hiding or defending point.

My arm is healing as expected. I will take off the cast tomorrow, but treat it gently.

As usual, Katzati will process any data we get for the map into her system, which has become a more pressing issue to find out the quality of our spot. Until then, she's with Marra on Rokann de-bugging to make sure that Rokann doesn't manage to loose any restraints. She struggles constantly while Korli gets the bugs out.

"Hey, Polo." Korli says as I walk into the best hospital we've got.
"Progress?"
"I've only got 9."

The mood is no good, to think the obvious. We're safe for the time. Still up shit creek, but we might have a paddle. Too bad we have no place to paddle to.
>>
No. 498434 ID: 8b9215

Remind us, 9 out of how many?
>>
No. 498435 ID: f2c20c

>>498432
Time estimate?

You'd think she'd grow more lucid as you got more bugs out.
>>
No. 498437 ID: d6ef5d

9 out of 70 or so? This is going to be slow. And I assume we're making sure the removed bugs are deactivated, and that they can't jump attempt to jump ship during the surgery?

We've got a head start on pursuit with what maps you already have, and Viln's knowledge of the caves. But the salikai will have cave based monsters, and their own volkit. Plus the hunter hive will have come with the numbers and equipment to scour this cave system.

Evasion and survival are the immediate concerns. Escape doesn't seem possible- you'd be too exposed in the open, and you have no safe way to contact the outside world, or even knowing that you're not contacting a CAI fake, or annother compromised party.

The only options, desperate as it seems, is to deal with the problem on your own.

The hive hunting you is controlled by these bugs. The bugs have four stripes orchestrating them, somehow. There's only one four stripes. If we can find him and take him out, the enemy's control of the other hive will be disrupted, or at least made less effective.
>>
No. 498438 ID: 9ddf68

So I take it that Biler Still MIA at this point. So based off the maps you have scanned so far how deep into the caves would you guess you are. And if you had to guess how far behind do you think your enemies are. It's ok if you ballpark it.
>>
No. 498442 ID: b33427

Nine out of how many? 50? 70? Too damn many, either way. And without better removal tools, Rokann might not make it through the trauma of removing the deeper ones. Does Korli have any ideas on what would help in that regard? A real strong, narrow magnet on a stick, maybe?

And why are those removed bugs just laying out where any one of you could accidentally step on them? Don't you have a sealed container to put them in? Or at least move them away... Actually, move them away anyway. Far away. Since the bugs form an AI link via short-range wireless, moving those nine bugs away might reduce the capabilities of the remaining ones in Rokann.

You should probably go down the tunnel with Viln to make sure you're not making camp in a dead-end anyway. Take the bugs and head twenty minutes run down the tunnel, dispose of them, then return.

>>498437
Escape actually isn't completely not an option. On the surface it is, but down here the caves extend beyond the boundaries of the voklit (or is it vernaut?) reservation. Almost certainly far beyond the boundaries, considering how the sub-surface of this planet seems to be riddled with caves. Between Viln's knowledge of the caves and Katzati's maps of the surrounding area, it's likely the group could find a route where they surface far away from here. At least far enough away that the CAI is well out of intercept range so they can radio out.
>>
No. 498445 ID: e936d0

So where is the Inspector and the Translator dude?

Biles is still MIA and, if not dead, most definitely compromised.
>>
No. 498446 ID: d6ef5d

>>498442
I'm sure the hunter hive has the resources to lock down the area outside the valley. The known exits will be watched, and their will be sure to be areal patrols, just in case.

And even if we we made it out, there is no one we can trust to call. The hunter hive had to have been compromised in advance. We have no way to know who else might be affected. We are alone.
>>
No. 498448 ID: 57a559

ugh this isn't working
Have we figured out if they can replicate?
>>
No. 498453 ID: b33427

>>498446
Except not every cave tunnel and exit around the voklit reservation has been mapped. Even the surface around here hasn't been mapped in detail. Polo can ask Katzati what has and has not been mapped in the vicinity of the reservation so we'll know what's what.

The hunter hive might have enough resources to lock down the area immediately around the reservation, but not for a several kilometer radius. And aerial patrols don't work so well when the targets are under forest canopy, which is what is around here, or are underground.

And can we please not use the assumption that other neumono on the planet are infested as a reason not to try and contact any other neumono? If we contact everyone that everybody in the group knows how to contact, most of them aren't going to be infected, if any. And if there are any non-neumono in that list, then they're for sure clean.

We have to at least try to get the word out about this; That every neumono needs to be x-rayed. And it's not like we have to sit tight after radioing out. We'll keep moving afterwards so we don't get found.

...And, actually, how much control would the mind-bugs have over a neumono without Four Stripes acting as conductor? 'Cause unless the salikai have shipped out dozens and dozens of empathic relays and arranged for a ridiculous number of hidden communication links to connect them back to Four Stripes, the chance that an infected neumono out there will be able to be controlled well enough to stop Polo from warning everyone is next to nil as far as I'm concerned.
>>
No. 498455 ID: d6ef5d

>>498451
The problem is we're the only people we know to be clean. Any attempt at outside contact exposes us, and could potentially get us killed.

You can't assume non-neumono are safe, either. The best way for the salikai to have spread the infection in the first place would be by the use of covert agents or spies, which would have to be non-neumono out of necessity. Any alien could be one of their agents.

And the salikai don't need to keep compromised people "live" at all times- as Rokann proved, these things have a sleeper mode. They can be just sitting around, waiting until they need activation. It doesn't need to be a majority. Just the right people in the right places to fuck us all.

And as soon we blow the cover of compromised hives? Any hope we have of ending this with minimal bloodshed will be lost. It'll be all out war. Thousands will die.

>can we please not use the assumption that other neumono on the planet are infested as a reason not to try and contact any other neumono?
My main complaint is that escaping far enough to contact outside help would require a considerable effort, moves us away from actually doing anything about the salikai, exposes us to considerable risk of being caught or faked out again, all in the vain hope someone else might do better than us.
>>
No. 498462 ID: 6dc5a6

>>498453

If we're holding out on the chance that only a small group of neumono are infected then our best chance at contacting other hives on the planet is to turn the whole forest into a smoke signal. Only problem with this plan is we don't know if the salikai will conveniently leave any napalm sitting around for us to deploy. We still need more information about how far the infection has gone, we'll have to make an expedition into one of the hunter camps when the arm heals up.
>>
No. 498468 ID: c4e5c2
File 136264517203.png - (13.61KB , 1045x447 , 169.png )
498468

We ran down towards the traintracks, but before we went as low as them, we turned west and went down a few kilometers of twists and turns. My visor is confident of an exact location. I am unsure if Katzati is even necessary, all I see her do is plug my, or someone's, visor into her computer and lounge in her chair while an automated script does the work.

Lucera and Kort are nearby. Lucera is pacing around looking over his notes, and Kort went to bed early.

Biles is still missing. Normally we would assume him dead, but now we'll be assuming him compromised.
>>
No. 498469 ID: c4e5c2
File 136264518918.png - (27.98KB , 700x700 , 170.png )
498469

"This is going slowly. Is there a time estimate?" I ask Korli.
"They move, doing tissue damage while they do, not to mention the knife. She'd be a bloody pulp if I just tried to yank out all 70 or so! Already got blood on my hands, sheesh. Anyway, the estimate is 'not tonight', because we need to sleep! Never did find those plastic gloves..."
"Can they replicate?"
"The plastic glov- I mean, no. No, I don't think so."
"Katzati, how much of this territory was mapped before we came?"
>"Below ground? Almost nothing, what we have is the leading part. Above ground, we have some aerial photographs and know the topography, but never did much more than burn a dirt road into the landscape, so we don't know what's below the treeline. Why?"
"Every bit of information is better when we're starved for it. And I've got mixed feelings about calling in for help, but that's moot until that even becomes an option. Which might be the case, if we can get to a surface exit far away."
>"How do we know we won't get a CAI fake?" Katzati asks.
"At so far away? I doubt they have the range."
>"Yes, but this could... well, I mean... I don't want to say it, but this is the salikai's base, right? Isn't it possible they mapped this place out thoroughly ahead of time? It's not hard, we just haven't done it ourselves."
"I don't believe I can exclude the possibility, considering they got voklits on their side."
>"Yeah... by the way, we have two days of rations, but we should hunt for food as we can so we won't be forced to, later. After tonight's shift, which we still have to decide on I think?"
"You all sleep." Marra says from beside Rokann. "No point in taking shifts, because I can't sleep."
>>
No. 498471 ID: e936d0

There is always a need to take shifts, especially when dealing with something like this.

I mean, fuck, the old faulty ones used on the hiveship could operate outside the body, once contact with the AI note was severed they even LEFT the body, whose to say these new ones aren't capable of leaving the body and entering another?
>>
No. 498472 ID: f2c20c

>>498469
Is she alright?

Hey, those bugs aren't gonna move on their own outside her body, right? Or are they being destroyed as they're extracted?
>>
No. 498489 ID: 57a559

>>498469
You've been handling bugs Katzati, not that we don't trust you, but we need to be careful. They might've hidden their ability to replicate, or if a single one got into your body, well that makes all information you have compromised.

Sorry, but one person on one big shift all the time is just asking for bad news, even with extenuating circumstances such as not having to sleep. Hasn't she seen the movies? Shit always goes down when it's unexpected during a shift. And it goes hard. These are voklit dumps we're talking about, rock hard as their abs kind of shit.
>>
No. 498492 ID: 8b9215

Unless Marra is some other species than neumono, she needs sleep, same as the rest of you. We should have 2 or 3 people up while she sleeps.
>>
No. 498494 ID: d6ef5d

Well, capturing hunter hive members and freeing them up one by one to build ourselves a resistance force isn't going to be an option at the rate it takes to debug someone.

>I am unsure if Katzati is even necessary
Just wait till the first software glitch crops up, or you have to deal with something unexpected- like false tunnels that change configuration after you move through them. Something will trip the software up eventually. Then you'll be glad you had her.

>Normally we would assume him dead, but now we'll be assuming him compromised.
There's not a bad chance he is dead. But him being compromised is about as close to certain as you can get.

>bug paranoia
Make sure the ones Korli removed are dead, or at least broken such that they're immobile. And do a quick x-ray of the people who had been working on her, just to make sure none of them tried jumping for another ship.

>Shifts
Well, if she can't sleep, fine, she's got watch (we can't force her to sleep, after all. Still, not something we can allow to go on for more than one night). Viln will probably be with her for at least part of the night, since Voklit need less sleep (so we have 2 people on).
>>
No. 498505 ID: f7a438

she'd make a poor watch if she's deprived of sleep. we can't make her sleep but we should appoint a second person for the second shift nevertheless.
>>
No. 498506 ID: bf0685

yeah have all sleep in shifts apart from the 2 who will be going out hunting for food so they're better rested for the day outside, would it be possible to set up some kind of relay so if they run into trouble they can atleast send a message further into the caverns?
>>
No. 498517 ID: c4e5c2
File 136267345422.png - (22.91KB , 700x700 , 171.png )
498517

Come to think of it, if a mapping glitch comes up, it is true that Katzati would be necessary.

"No. If you can't sleep, fine, but two people are going to be on shifts at a time. You're going to sleep tomorrow if you can't sleep tonight." I look at them with my x ray vision. They're clean. "Korli, have we been breaking the bugs?"
"Yeah, definitely."
"And Marra. Are you alright?"
"She's a lifelong friend."
"Don't let that get in-"
"I'm a fucking professional, alright?"

Ironic.
>>
No. 498518 ID: d6ef5d

Apologize, and say you understand. (And mean it. I assume your empathy is on? ...although wait, nevermind, you'd have the stolen jammer up and running to hide from hunter hive searchers anyways).

Check on the rest of camp and everyone else before turning in.

>Ironic.
...I must have forgotten some context, because I'm blanking on what the irony is here.
>>
No. 498521 ID: e936d0

>>498518

The irony is where she claims to be professional about it, but at the same time is claiming that she cannot sleep because it is her life-long friend sitting there infested with hijackers that could make her a threat to the entire species.
>>
No. 498527 ID: 55d5a7

>>498521
Also, the way she said she's a professional wasn't very professional.
>>
No. 498528 ID: 9ddf68

Well if we're taking night watch shift in pairs who do you think would be a good partner for Marra? I would say you do it but I'm not so sure if anyone else would be comfortable about doing guard duty with your voklit friend other than you.
>>
No. 498529 ID: c4e5c2
File 136268109249.png - (35.35KB , 700x700 , 172.png )
498529

Ironic, because she said she is a professional in an unprofessional manner. Unless their ultrahive defines professionalism differently.

My empathy is not on, but it doesn't matter while our stolen jammer is up.

"Sorry." I say to Marra, getting Korli to help me take off my armor. Back at camp, Lucera is tapping away at his computer. Even without sensing the empathy, he still somehow manages to produce a sense of 'don't bug me'. Too bad I have to.

"Lucera, are the shifts set up? Marra says she's not sleeping."
>"Fine. Katz, then you, two hours each, then your voklit for 4. Plus Kort or me if Marra sleeps. Up in 8 hours."
>>
No. 498530 ID: c4e5c2
File 136268110764.png - (11.60KB , 700x700 , 173.png )
498530

I go to bed. It's more difficult to sleep than I thought. There's still noises in the caves. Not metallic or gunshots, just sounds of wildlife echoing across the walls.
>>
No. 498531 ID: c4e5c2
File 136268117214.png - (14.91KB , 700x700 , 174.png )
498531

But I must have eventually fallen asleep, as Katzati wakes me up to take over her shift.

".... your shift isn't done for another half hour. Is something wrong?"
>"Yeah, I.... Polo, w-we should move. I mean, really soon."
"Is there someone around?"
>"No, but I keep thinking and looking at the maps and there's 300 or so in that hive, and if even just a light majority are searching they'd be able to scour a large amount of space in a short time and-"
"Calm down. Talk slower."
>"... I'm thinking we aren't deep enough in. Tunnels here are long and... there just aren't many branching paths. There's a good chance they won't find us, but there's a good chance they will at any time. They're called the hunter hive for a reason."
>>
No. 498532 ID: 9ddf68

Well unless this tunnel just turns out to be a dead end I don't see much problem in moving further in as that seemed to be the plan in the first place, but you should also check with the others in your group to see if you can move. From what I see everyone is tired and under a hell of a lot of stress and unlike you I don't think they've been in a mission like this before.
>>
No. 498533 ID: 8b9215

Are you in command? If you are, issue orders. If not, give the strongest suggestion possible to the one in command. We need to skedaddle.

"Wake everyone up. We are moving."

Stay quiet if you can. If she's afraid they are that close they may be listening for stuff.
>>
No. 498534 ID: d6ef5d

She's injured. Her left ear is bloody- partially covered up by the way she's holding her head.

First thing to do is make sure she's all right, and that the injury doesn't mean she has a bug in her head making her nuts (one might not be enough to control her, but it might be enough to mess with mood. Ie, the enemy trying to make us panic or paranoid, tire ourselves out, run when we don't need to, etc).

If she's clean, calm her down and spend another minute or two having her walk you through her thinking- make sure this isn't just fear or paranoia talking. (She's not exactly a military type- she's not as prepared as the rest of you to cope). Then you should probably trust her. Mapping, exploration, and the math and timeframe estimates involved... this is her area of expertise. If she thinks you're at risk, she's probably right. We'll have to cut the night short and move.
>>
No. 498540 ID: b33427

See, this is why you have Katzati around. It may be paranoia, but in this situation, paranoia could very well save all your lives.

>>498534
Yeah, definitely have her walk you through her thinking. Ask her to pull up a map of a similar cave system to the one you're in, as an example, and show you what she's worried about. If her thinking is sound, then wake Lucera and show him, and run it by Marra since she's awake already.

Considering that the salikai have almost certainly mapped this entire cave system, and they've shared that information with the hunters, they're going to be able to efficiently and effectively search the whole place. That means at least 150 hunters, probably closer to 200, in three to five man teams, plus an unknown number of teams of the salikai's own forces. So in the eight hours you have to rest before packing up, they can clear large segments of the tunnel network, and station guards to make sure your group doesn't double-back.

Plus, they'll also know where all the major bottlenecks and intersections are, and post guards there as well. It'll be nasty if your group flees and ends up careening face-first into one of those.

Also, since they know the tunnels, if they do locate us and we don't know they have, they could move teams around into all the tunnels away from our position, then completely crush us.

It'd probably be a good idea to push on for at least another eight hours anyway. The more distance between your group and the hunters, the better. Then everyone can sack out and take a long rest. There'll be grumbling, but it's better than being sandwiched between two hunter teams in a long tunnel.

Basically, all we have on our side here is a head start, and if we give that up we're done for.

And from now on, everyone keep their voices as low as they can and make as little noise as possible. The hard rock walls down here will reflect even small sounds, as your experience with the wildlife shows. In fact, your pursuers might be using audio location systems that filter out wildlife sounds to listen for your group. Check with Korli in a bit if that's a thing that is possible.
>>
No. 498544 ID: c4e5c2
File 136268651211.png - (14.40KB , 700x700 , 175.png )
498544

She's clean, so I move around to stand on the table and have a look at her head.

"Move your hand. Are you wounded?"
>"No, I'm just... it's noisy here." I feel for a cut or anything, but it's nothing. She is just distressed.
"You haven't been on a mission like this, have you?"
>"I've done basic military training, that's all. I'm a cartographer, I'm not ma-"
"I know. I'm not in command, though. Why did you come to me, rather than Lucera?"
>"Lucera isn't... I mean, he's just..."
"Nevermind. We're understandably stressed, and I don't blame you for being on edge."
>"I'm sorry, it's just dark and cold here, and the wilderness here keeps startling me. But I really think we should go."
"You would know it best. I just don't want you speaking out of fear and paranoia."
>"... don't you constantly think of paranoia? And have it turn out to be best?"
...
>"Sorry!"
"No, you have a point. Show me your maps and your line of thought."
>>
No. 498545 ID: c4e5c2
File 136268652699.png - (23.04KB , 1061x546 , 176.png )
498545

>"Here, let me upload a chunk that we discovered without you... okay. This is what we have. Lucera and them went in through point A, you went in through point B, we met at about point one, and all moved where we're at now, point 2. There's a total of only 20 paths we didn't go explore, in total, or so. I'm sure that those branching paths have more branching paths, but... if they're moving fast and managed to go straight for us, they could catch up in an hour and a half or so. And if one of them finds us, then even if we kill that one, the hunter hive will know where we went once that hunter never returns. They might even be setting down radio relays as they go!"
"Quiet, Katzati. Do you think it's possible they have detectors that can filter out sounds from out group?"
>"Oh... i-it's possible."
"Keep your fear in check. It sounds like that's what's getting you to try and move us, but I still agree. I'll tell Lucera to move. Which way should we head?"
>"I- I don't know. Deeper in, but I have no idea if we should go deeper in south, north or what. South goes downward deeper into the caves, and north goes upward. North, I'm guessing, would be better to try to find a surface exit, but it might make us easier to find, since they might be thinking that's where we would try to go."
>>
No. 498547 ID: bf0685

tell her to keep her cool, it's good to note these things but don't work herself into a paranoia attack about it
>>
No. 498551 ID: d6ef5d

Whoops! No blood. Just thick lines or shadow, I guess. Oh well, got a cute almost cuddling picture out of it, at least. :V

>paranoia
It's good for keeping yourself from being caught off guard. So long as you don't let it make you panic or react carelessly. I just wanted to be sure. Don't afraid to come to me if you think of other concerns- I'll hear you out.

>north or south?
I'd rather head south. If north leads out, we might run right into them if they set anyone down at exterior entrances in addition to entrances A and B.

Of course, going deeper has somewhat higher risks or running into actual Salikai forces, but we have no idea where they are. Only evidence we've seen so far is them using the central pit, and we're miles from there.
>>
No. 498552 ID: 9ddf68

I say ask the rest of your group when you try and get them to leave, I want to say south because I feel head north we'll come across the train tracks again which will be more heavily guarded but we have a wounded/slightly brain washed person on our hands that needs treatment or at least a decent medical facility to help remove those bugs. So we might want to put it up to a vote when we start to move.
>>
No. 498553 ID: 76b151

I think ultimately we have to find the Saliki. And its also the last thing they would expect. At least as long as they know Polo is dead.
>>
No. 498554 ID: d6ef5d

>>498552
We're neumono, though. Speedy regeneration. Battlefield surgery will work just fine. The only advantage of an actual medical facility would be getting the procedure done in less time and, well, comfort. (Poor Rokann's getting debugged without painkillers. And we can't even knock her out!)

>At least as long as they know Polo is dead.
We ID-ed ourself to the hunter hive. Odds are pretty high that means the Salikai know Polo's here, unless control is done purely by empathy or routed completely through four stripes, or they didn't believe the intel.
>>
No. 498555 ID: eaf2f5

Polo you are so tiny.

If we move topside we would have to find and take out their attack helicopters, or be blown to shreds when they find us.

So i suggest we stay in the tunnels and move south and downwards.

Also the salikai have been relying heavily on the voklit and controlled neumono to do the fighting. So their underground base might not be too heavily guarded.
>>
No. 498556 ID: 57a559

Better safe than sorry, if we even take a chance at north and are found, we'll likely be mowed down with as much weight we're carrying. We already lost a friend. I don't want to lose any more. South is pretty dangerous too, with likely opposition we have no intel about, could be even more weird salikai experimental warfare tech down there, but descent helped us survive the last time we were in this type of situation. Maybe the cave network could expand for miles under the planet and we can head back up somewhere else entirely, far away. The objective isn't to engage the salikai, merely report it's location to command so we can get an armada. And get these bugs there to so our scientist can invent a counter for it. It might be a month long trek though, requiring constant moving of the camp.

Regardless we go north or south, we should definitely move camp every once in a while. Just to keep shifting. Find more secure areas. If we want to keep our ground instead of becoming underground migrators for what could be an entire county's worth of land mass just to find a secure escape route, we could alternate between the secure areas.
>>
No. 498562 ID: 5bf190

I wonder if the voklits knew a secret tunnel. We already know they were going further out down here than they were supposed to, and if I were them, at the mercy of a technologically superior, traditional enemy, I'd have a back door to escape through. Given that they had an entrance to the caves right in the middle of their camp, it seems likely. Even if they didn't, the salikai must have gotten here from some direction that wasn't overland, they'd want a back door too. Several, maybe.

You should ask Viln for advice before you choose which direction to go. I assume you've already asked him if he knows the kind of exit you want, but there's already things we know he didn't know. Given his previously expressed desire to become the designated neumono-talking person in his tribe, it's possible things were kept from him. Maybe he knows someone else who might know better? Though it'd be impossible to find them at this point.
>>
No. 498563 ID: b33427

Tell Katz that paranoia is justified in a situation such as this, just don't let it give you an anxiety attack. Actually, is she feeling extra anxious because she's not used to being in a jammer field, cut off from the emotional support of the empathic link while in a stressful situation? Ask her if that's what she's feeling.

Considering that the hunter hive has almost certainly been given at least part of the salikai's cave maps, they'll know where all the cave entrances are. That means they've likely already airlifted teams up to the nearby north cave exits to guard them. So if we go north, it'll mean we'll have to fight out, and we're in no shape to fight a team of armed, armored, and bio-armored hunters. And because they'll be close to the surface, they can easily radio to raise the alarm and call for reinforcements and helicopter support. Even if we do manage to get out, we'll have all the hunter hive on our tails in short order.

Because of this, I'm in favor of heading south. Even though it means heading deeper into enemy territory, where they know the terrain, it also means the hunter hive can't use their attack 'copters or vehicles against you... Except maybe those motorcycles, but down here you'd be able to hear them coming even farther than on the surface.

Ask Katzati if she can estimate the path of the railway you found, based on what map data she has. Railways very often don't change grade or curve sharply, so from what she has she should be able to draw out a cone in both directions from it to mark it's estimated location.

There's also something else we should be wary of: We don't know where the salikai have hidden cameras or other detection devices. At the very least they've put them on the tunnels near wherever their base is, but beyond that we have no idea how far out they've put in hidden radio relays, cameras, and detectors. If we are unfortunate enough to go past one, then things are going to get real nasty, real quick.

Also, we should definitely think about how to get our hands on the salikai's maps. Probably by taking down a small search party at first. Unfortunately they almost certainly won't have more than a partial map, and it definitely won't show where the salikai's base is, but it'll be better than what we have. Also, because it wouldn't show where the base is, we might be able to guess where it is if we get enough partial maps. That is, if they didn't put false map data in where the base is to hide it.
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No. 498565 ID: d6ef5d

>>498562
>Secret tunnel
An interesting idea, but I get the feeling we're already well away from the areas Viln and Vern usually hunted. It there are hidden tunnels or secret doors nearby, he wouldn't know them (unless there are Voklit markers for things like that, and he recognizes one?).

>>498563
>hidden salikai cameras, relays
Yes, a concern. However, they've already proved they can hide tech we can't find, so there's little we can do about it!

It might be they limited sowing these caves with tech to increase the odds an inspection team might pass them by (obviously, killing us with the hunter hive is a plan B. Plan A would have been to go unnoticed). If, you know, luck worked out in our favor for once.

>ambush searcher for their maps
The problem, as Katzatai said, is that even if we kill them, the others will know where they disappeared, sooner or later. Which narrows down the search for us considerably. I'm not sure anything we could get in a raid is worth deliberately engaging enemy patrols if they can be avoided.
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No. 498567 ID: f7a438

splitting up to cover more ground is tempting, but if we want to minimize our losses, which we definitely want to do with the low numbers we have (or with the basic sense of morality we also have), we should all stick together.
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No. 498577 ID: b33427

>>498565
Yeah, the salikai probably didn't install hidden cameras and detection gear for that reason. Though, I'd say there is a good chance they're deploying temporary hidden and not hidden cameras and such, and the radio relays for them, right now as part of this search. Those they can clean up afterwards without a trace.

>Searcher ambush for maps/supplies/gear
Actually, it wouldn't be an ambush with the whole group. It'd be Polo, Viln, and maybe one other, with the rest of the group hiding far, far away. It also would utilize a trap that'd take out most of the enemy group, such as a rockfall, or dumping a bunch of those glowing slugs on them while they're in a slug cave so the predators attack them. Make a good enough trap and we wouldn't have to fire a shot.
>>
No. 498584 ID: d6ef5d

>>498577
Eh... even if we use a limited party, and take out the whole enemy group, the people we take out will be missed, and that gives the enemy a narrow area to close in on trap our raiders.

It's not something I'd really want to try to we had a secure hiding place or base setup of some kind. I'd also rather not risk splitting up right now.
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No. 498585 ID: b33427

>>498584
Oh, of course not now, or even in the immediate future. Just throwing it out as a possible action in the future, if we get a secure location to hide in or something.
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No. 498611 ID: c4e5c2
File 136270562217.png - (19.17KB , 700x700 , 177.png )
498611

"Viln."
"Polo." I am not sure he was even sleeping.
"Do you know much about the caves we are in now?"
"Far north of home, forbidden territory."
"So, nothing."
"Nothing."
"No secret tunnels?"
"Only at home. But home is no longer home."
"Alright. Don't both going to back to sleep. We're moving soon.
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No. 498612 ID: c4e5c2
File 136270563288.png - (15.80KB , 700x481 , 178.png )
498612

I turn to Katzati again. "Paranoia is justified here, but don't get an anxiety attack here. Is the lack of a jammer field bugging you?"
>"Yes, it really is, but there isn't much we can do about it, is there?"
"No, sorry. Same as if the salikai have cameras around, they're good at hiding them. By the way, do you have an estimated path for the railway?"
>"Southwest, northeast, with a slight curve to the west and north."
"I'll wake everyone up and have us keep moving, to the south."
>"Okay. Polo, thank you."
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No. 498613 ID: c4e5c2
File 136270574788.png - (33.09KB , 700x700 , 179.png )
498613

Lucera grumbles at being woken, but he is not hard to convince that continuing to run from 300 well equipped neumono out for blood might be a better idea than sleeping. We pack our bags, Viln slings Rokann to his back, and we head out.

As few words as possible are spoken now, and we travel in silence. Around 1 AM, we reach a river. Slugs tell us that, in case we miss the running water right in front of us.
>"I know this river." Viln breaks the silence. "The water moves down. Large, open cavern at the end. Lots of prey, lots of danger. Do not know where west goes, but there is the west path.
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No. 498615 ID: 8b9215

Take whatever path gets us furthest away from this place the fastest. Except the railroad. It is most certainly guarded.
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No. 498617 ID: f2c20c

>>498613
Lots of prey and lots of danger means likely our guns making lots of noise. We DO need to hunt, though. It might be a good path. Plus, if we can set up camp near there we would be able to hear the hunters shooting at stuff if they enter the cave. It'd be a great proximity alert.
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No. 498622 ID: d6ef5d

Oh goodie. A decision to make on our path without context, while being pursued. Like the early parts of the warship, all over again. Fun.

Alright... so a place with a lot of food and water has it's uses. And the native danger will be less significant since we have modern weapons.

On the downside... a big open cave is going to be easier to be caught in the open, in. And if there are multiple entrances/exits, it will be easier for the hunter hive to discover the place. And if we're forced to defend ourself from the wildlife, we're burning ammunition, and making noise in a big open space.

The unknown may be unknown, but I'm kind of not liking what lies east. Biggest downside of going west though it we're going uphill again (potentially bringing us closer to searcher?).
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No. 498623 ID: 7a940c

So how is Marra holding up?

Also I believe a quick scan with the x-ray is needed, just for practicality's sake, hell, It might even tell us whether or not Rokaan has attempted to escape by fucking with her bone layout, we don't know what these bots are capable of, considering that they can apparently keep a neumono conscious far beyond what the body is supposed to take.
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No. 498625 ID: 665fcd

I say if you think you've moved far enough set up camp here and do some hunting then after you guys have restocked your supplies head west as I don't think you want to have to deal with the wild life when you only have so many bullets on you and travel though there with your wounded/prisoner slowing you down
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No. 498627 ID: d6ef5d

>>498617
Hmm. Intriguing. Hiding near the cavern to try and avoid danger and the obvious exposure, but close enough to harvest resources and use the wildlife as an alarm system is something I hadn't considered. Hard to say if the risks are worth it, but that's certainly the way to play it if we go east.

I guess I'm actually wondering too, would that kind of cavern attract the hunters? They might like to, well, hunt while they're down here. Resupply with fresh meat, rather than lugging rations down the caves.

>>498623
...okay, I think that's being a little too paranoid. If those things could free her, or rebuild her, they would have done so earlier, when that would have fucked us over.
>>
No. 498628 ID: 57a559

>>498613
Let us hunt like real Voklit and Neumono. Primative tech only! GO GO GO! Who can win, Polo or Viln? Would have been a closer match between Biles and Polo since Viln has the edge, but still place your bets here folks!

I'm serious about gambling, raise the morale a bit. Good meat and a hunt will also raise your morale and Viln's. Just make sure gambling on hunts isn't offensive to Voklit.
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No. 498636 ID: b33427

Take the river route only if either Viln thinks your group could take down the prey or the danger without using firearms, or if the danger is the kind that will ignore your group if you don't go after the prey. This is a case where you can't afford to use up ammo if you can avoid it, but the big issue is the noise the guns would make. Any enemy acoustic sensors would definitely be set to listen for the distinctive sound of a gunshot.

If Viln doesn't think your group could make it through without using your guns, then take the west route. There's plenty of opportunities to hunt or gather food down here; The group is bound to find one within a couple days.

If you can, right before leaving this area send someone up to collect a couple glow-slugs. They'll be good as a light source so the group isn't running down batteries for flashlights, and as emergency rations. You also need to reapply your armor's cave camo, and everyone else should consider rubbing slug slime into their fur and clothes to blend in as well.

Did Rokann finally fall asleep once Korli stopped digging out the bugs? Or did the bugs keep her awake even afterwards? If so, that could become a problem if they keep Rokann up continuously. Laying sleep deprivation on top of everything else may just drive her insane or comatose.

Good to see you don't have to keep your arm in a sling any more. You won't have any problems if you go easy on it, right?
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No. 498637 ID: b53faa

>>498432
>>498613
we should keep out of the prey cave, reserve that as an emergency ration-gathering area. Move west, be careful about cracks and fissures and if it looks bad head back and go the other way.
>>
No. 498696 ID: ba5f2c

unless we have a shortage of rations, go west.
>>
No. 498746 ID: b33427

>>498636
Actually, I changed my mind. Don't take the river route; Go west instead. Priority one right now is to put as much distance between your group and the hunter and salikai forces. You don't have time to hunt in that cavern and tangle with whatever danger is there, especially since the group will have to avoid using their guns for fear of being detected. There's enough food for now, and there'll almost certainly be other opportunities to hunt within a day or two, so push on for as long as the group can before resting.

In fact, with the hunters infested with those mind-bugs, we can't stop or slow down for anything. Those bugs will keep the hunters going indefinitely, even if it turns the hosts into zombies. Our only chance is to get far enough away that they have to spread their manpower out so much it slows their search to a crawl. Plus, if we get out of the salikai mapped areas, they'll be as ignorant as us as to the terrain.
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No. 498777 ID: c4e5c2
File 136277255399.png - (25.11KB , 700x700 , 180.png )
498777

I did remove my sling, and should be fine as long as I don't stress it unduly. Marra seems fine, as much as I can tell considering that we're in a jammer field, she hasn't said a word, and hasn't changed her stone faced expression. Rokann eventually fell asleep as well once we stopped 'threatening' her with taking the bugs out.

I get off Viln, who goes to collect some more glow slugs. Lucera moves up to me and whispers.
>"Since Biles is missing, you'll continue being our guide. Katzati, you'll be next if Polo gets compromised or killed. Input, Polo?"
"West."

So we move west for about one hour. We only hit one deadend in that time, and I'm pleased at how much branching there is in this section. If we're lucky, it isn't just one path that keeps winding back into hours every couple hundred meters.

We hear a couple of rocks fall uncomfortably close behind us.
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No. 498780 ID: d6ef5d

Whups. Something's there.

Everyone quiet, assume defensive positions, while the sneaky person goes to investigate. Alt visor modes may help.

If possible, it might be nice to turn down the radius of the group's jammer, so when you step out of range (silent) to investigate, you'll be able to pick up if you're being pursued by unjammed hunters.

We probably want to evade rather than engage, but we may not have a choice. And we want to know what's out there (animal? monster? Salikai trooper? Hunter hiver?).
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No. 498787 ID: bf0685

split & keep against the walls, anything to minimise your sillouette (spelling?) & gain possible cover, dispite it being used so much can the xray goggles/visor be used to get a glimpse, just a mere quick on & off to save power, down the tunnel? even if it's just a brief flash it could highlight if something, voklit, creature or "posessed" neumono are following
>>
No. 498796 ID: b33427

Something back there, but it could be anything: Hunters, salikai forces, local wildlife stalking the group, or even a prelude to a tunnel collapse. Any which way it is, you still have to check it.

Motion for everyone to stop, split up, get flat against the sides of the tunnel, and remain quiet, then listen for any movement while looking back and cycling through your visor modes. If you don't see anything, whisper to Viln to move back the way you came and ready his gun, but to hold fire until you say to; If this is just a wild animal, you'll want to take it down relatively quietly. Ready your rifle as well, in case something has to be shot, it'll be somewhat quieter than Viln's gun.

If there are any corners or curves that need to be checked around, perhaps Viln could hold you horizontally in one or both hands and stick you out just far enough that you can peek around them.
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No. 498799 ID: f2c20c

>>498777
Infrared, quick!
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No. 498803 ID: c4e5c2
File 136278079133.png - (45.35KB , 700x700 , 181.png )
498803

I'll have to remember to camoflauge myself again. Green is hardly inconspicuous against these purple rocks.

"Get close together, reduce the range of the jammer. I'm going to have a look." I say. "Viln, watch my back."

I move back the way we came, briefly flicking through my visor's modes. Nothing on normal, night, xray or thermal. I'm about ready to give up after a few minutes, as the rock could have come down an increasing number of branching paths. But I finally see something stick its head out. Just wildlife. I think.
>>
No. 498805 ID: f2c20c

>>498803
Back away slowly, getting your gun ready.

Those look like they could be robots. Infrared would probably reveal their true nature.
>>
No. 498807 ID: eaf2f5

Try scaring them away by appearing as big as you can and waving your arms around.
>>
No. 498808 ID: d6ef5d

Some kind of bug or bird thing? Unless the Salikai have started mind-controlling the wildlife, or that's a robot (or a really weird miklik) you should be fine.

Back off and regroup with the others. If it attacks, aim for one of those huge eyes. Check with Viln what it was (give him a description if he couldn't see from where he was). And continue on your way. We're looking for a secluded spot to hide out, if we can find one.
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No. 498810 ID: 8b9215

They are wearing helmets. That's not natural. It's seen you. See if your radio will work at this short a range. It may be more powerful than any radio jammers down here. Tell them that the group is compromised. Get a better view of the creature. If it's not something you know to be friendly it's time to shoot. If you see neumono shoot them in their legs to slow them down. Headshots will not stop them from chasing you unless you take out both eyes.
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No. 498812 ID: d6ef5d

>>498807
We're trying not to make a lot of noise, here, and these things already seem a little skittish. (They hid for a few minutes, before sticking their heads out).

>helmets
Eh, I don't see it. It's not like it's uncommon for something like a beak to be a different color from the skin fur or feathers covering the rest of a creature.
>>
No. 498815 ID: b33427

It may be "just wildlife," or they may be some kind of weird looking robots, or a bunch of mikliks with really funky mutations.

There is a way to test if it's either of the latter two. Bring your rifle up to aim towards them while backpedaling towards Viln. If they're not wildlife, they'll pull their heads back for sure. If they are they won't, or even start moving out of cover. Also check for IR signatures to determine if they're mechanical or biological.

Once you're back at Viln, flip on all the directional lights you have and point them at the creature if its still coming, both so he can tell you if it's dangerous, and to blind it since it's been in the dark for so long. If they didn't follow, describe what they looked like to him so he can identify them.
>>
No. 498821 ID: 9ddf68

I say see if you can get Viln to tell you if those are just the local wildlife or not and if they are how dangerous are they.

Also get your gun ready just encase things go south.
>>
No. 498828 ID: ba5f2c

make sure they aren't constructs or have man-made equipment on them before backing off.
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No. 498832 ID: c4e5c2
File 136278536922.png - (25.58KB , 700x700 , 182.png )
498832

I move backward, pointing my gun at it with one hand and waving my left at it menacingly. I flip to thermal. It does have a heat signature, and it remains still as a statue the whole time.

I describe it once I reach Viln.

"Longbeak pecker. Will follow, but not attack, always annoying, never know what longbeaks want." Just wildlife, and a waste of time.
>>
No. 498833 ID: f2c20c

The hunters would follow them and thus find us if they knew the longbeaks' habit of following people. How likely would that be?

How easy are they to fight off? Could we do it without guns?
>>
No. 498837 ID: b33427

Return to the group and report what it was. How much time was wasted here, anyway?

Ask Viln how hard it'd be to lay a trap for the longbeaks, and if they're alright to eat. They might just end up being mobile rations for your group. Also ask him how likely it'd be for your enemies to track your group by following the longbeaks. It may be you'll have to either scare them off, or kill them in a way that doesn't show your group killed them.
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No. 498840 ID: c4e5c2
File 136278838711.png - (14.22KB , 700x700 , 183.png )
498840

"How easy is it to fight off without guns, and is it edible?"
"It will run away. Too quick for spear. Then it comes back to follow more. Edible?"
"Can we eat it."
"Yes."
"Can we lay a trap?"
"Possible, if big rock is found, and only if it does not see is making trap."
"Can they be tracked, leading the enemy right to us?"
"Harder to track than smelly neumono."
>>
No. 498841 ID: d6ef5d

Write them off for now. We need to keep moving, and they're not a threat. If they're following us, that means they're covering any tracks or smell we leave with their own. We can try killing them for food later, if we need to.
>>
No. 498842 ID: f2c20c

Let's ignore them. They can't be killed easily and a trap would make noise.
>>
No. 498844 ID: bf0685

yeah let it follow, with any luck it could end up acting as an early warning/detection system or meatshield (then food afterwards)
>>
No. 498847 ID: 9ddf68

Well that was anti-climatic. Oh well lets just keep going and see if we can't find something that is actually useful a little farther up.
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No. 498854 ID: c4e5c2
File 136279032224.png - (48.44KB , 700x700 , 184.png )
498854

I report to the others that it was just a harmless thing. No one is disappointed that the outcome was, as is the case, anticlimactic. Rather, I think we could use less things to keep us on edge. Short of shooting it and making a great deal of noise, there isn't much we can do about it, so we let it follow.

Another half hour passes. We reach another path choice. The cave continues on still downward as usual, but there is a hole now that leads nearly straight down. Shining a light down, with or without my visor modes, shows that it twists around slightly, limiting how far down I can see.
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No. 498856 ID: f2c20c

>>498854
Is there any way to go down the hole quietly, also without leaving a grapple behind?

Would our annoying pests following us be able to get down there? Would they TRY? I imagine it would be quite noisy for them to scrabble down that tunnel.

Seems like the best thing to do is ignore the hole. I can't think of any benefit to going down there.
>>
No. 498859 ID: 35edd4

We absolutely do not want to go down shafts that have no known exit, unless we have the tools to carve handholds or something. Imagine if we went to all this effort and then just got trapped at the bottom of a deadend cave?
>>
No. 498860 ID: bf0685

or... we could try misdirection, leave subtle but non-the-less noticable clues that people have gone down there very recently & proceed onwards with our current course, with any luck it could throw possible persuers off our scent for at least enough time to gain significant ground distance
>>
No. 498864 ID: d6ef5d

Um. We have one grappling hook, and a convoy of allies lugging boxes of supplies. Descending down a vertical shaft seems logistically difficult, if not outright infeasible.

I suppose a quick zip down and up via grappling hook yourself might be doable?

>>498860
Eh, the enemy has no idea where we are in the cave systems. Any attempt at misdirection narrows down where we were, and the area they need to search. It's not worth it.
>>
No. 498872 ID: b33427

Okay, it might be a good idea to go down that hole to get ahead of your pursuers, but you have no idea whether it's going to end up in a dead end, or lands in a carnivore pit or something else nasty. And even if it does check out, it's going to take awhile to get everyone down it. You'll also have to figure out how to undo the rope used to get down, from the bottom of the hole. Perhaps tying it with a knot that had an equal lead from it down the hole, and will undo when that lead is pulled?

Anyway. Head down to scout the hole out. Tie a rope in a harness to yourself, the other end to a rock, and have Viln, Marra, and Katzati lower you down. Between the three of them they'll be able to haul you up real quick if something goes bad. Figure out a rope pull signal system before going down. You're going to have to be quick about it down there, though; Who knows how close your pursuers are.

>>498840
>"Smelly neumono"
You'd be slightly insulted, except that that brings up an important point: Can your group be tracked by scent? Ask Viln how easily he and other voklits would be able to sniff out the group's trail. Do they have domesticated creatures that have an even better sense of smell they use to track. Does he know of other creatures down here that have better senses of smell. ...Could those longbeak peckers have been salikai trained trackers? Is that even possible?

Considering the group's scent trail, the next time you come to a river or pond, everyone should wash themselves and their clothes, and rinse off everything they've been carrying. It's either that or coating everyone in something that smells like creatures that belong down here to mask the neumono scent entirely, and that might not be possible.

You should leave that empty explosive shotgun with the rest of the group. It'll be one less thing to rattle against your armor, and without ammo it's only useful as a really ineffective club.

Also, remember to re-coat your armor in purple slug slime camo as the group is marching along.
>>
No. 498873 ID: b59bfb

... It might be wise if we were to kill the beak nose, it could be artificial, mimicking the wildlife as a way to look for intruders inconspicuously. I say we kill it, don't worry about the hole, keep moving.
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No. 498878 ID: d6ef5d

>>498873
I still think we should be ignoring the bird things, for now.
>>
No. 498884 ID: 9ddf68

Well if you want to give the hole a quick peek to see if there is anything of interest down there make sure you have people that can quickly pull you up encase something happens and that this time the rope you're using isn't cut. If you don't plan on giving the hole a quick look ignore it completely As I think it would be to much effort and not enough reward to try and get your whole party down there, what with all the equipment you're all carrying. Although that same problems would also burden anyone else who also tried to go down that hole too.
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No. 498923 ID: c4e5c2
File 136279979253.png - (32.28KB , 700x700 , 185.png )
498923

"The hole is too dangerous." I say as the others catch up. "Ignore it. It is high risk and a low chance of reward, plus the time it would take for mE to poke inside, myself."

I get on Viln's shoulder again after leaving my empty shotgun with Marra and start to coat my armor with the slime again. "I'd be somewhat insulted about being called 'smelly' neumono, but that brings up a point. Can we be tracked with scent?"
"Yes. Why insulted? Is smelly. Not disrespect, but fact. If voklit is nearby before smell dies, could track us."
"And what can we do about our smell?"
"Bath."
"..... I mean something to coat ourselves with."
"Nothing around."

We walk longer. Several hours pass this time, nothing but silently walking at a brisk pace, or the group's attempt at brisk. We start hitting deadends and paths that wrap around to areas we've been to before. We do reach a stretch of river, finally, in case we actually did want to go dive in freezing water. This one does not have slugs, and is only a brief edge of a river that comes out of an underground hole for about 15 meters before slipping back into a tunnel we can't get into without diving in. It moves rapidly, no doubt because of the rain on the surface. The time is around 10 AM, now.

Katzati motions me over to her. She sounds winded.
>"I think we may have gotten about as far as this section of caves go." Katzati says. "There's more paths, yes, but we might have to go north or south if we don't want to stop here. Let's... I know it was my idea, but let's take a break."
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No. 498927 ID: 8b9215

5 hour break. Sleep, eat, whatever you need. Any spare time is spent ripping bugs out of Rokann.
>>
No. 498928 ID: 9ddf68

I think a break sounds good. Even super solders need sleep from time to time, Much less all the other mortals you're around.
>>
No. 498929 ID: d6ef5d

Remember that you at least got a few hours of rest- she spent that shift on watch. Plus, as the scout you're not hauling anything but your own gear, and you were carried for part of the trip. The others will be more tired.

A break gives the people who need to rest a chance to rest, a chance to dig some more bugs out of Rokann, and a chance to scout around the local area. If we're found, knowing the immediate surroundings will help, and there may be resources we can use, or threats we should know about.
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No. 498937 ID: f2c20c

Fair enough. There's water here too, so we can... maybe try to get rid of our smells?

Oh, and going down a river will put them off our trail, if they're on it. Might be a good idea, here.
>>
No. 498942 ID: b33427

Yeah, it's about time for a rest. Take a four hour break. Half the group can nap for half that time, and the other half the other half. Katzati is in the first nap. Have Korli and Marra up together so they can continue pulling bugs out of Rokann. You and Viln will be up for the first two hours.

For your and Viln's time up, you two will scout down the tunnels for twenty minutes, then return, and do that two more times in different directions to map out the immediate area. Hand your mapper over to Katzati so she can update the master map before you head out.

Ask Marra if she could talk to Rokann to check her mental state before Korli starts work on her again; Get an idea if the bugs are screwing with her in more subtle ways and such.

Oh, and if there's a spot in the river where the flow isn't bad, perhaps those who are up could take turns bathing and washing out their clothes.

>Rain on the surface flowing down here
Ask Viln how much the tunnels down here flood when it rains hard. In the upper tunnels it's not as big of a problem, but once you get down lower you may be looking at many blocked routes because of water.
>>
No. 498943 ID: 81cda3

Take a look around, know the area, find a good secure place to take a break, then take the break.

And while we're taking it... I remember that, a long time ago now, you said the "needle trick" for hiding your empathy was a "one way ticket to insanity". But if it comes right down to the life-or-death mark, being killed or having your personality wiped, wouldn't insanity be the slightly less worse option? I mean, Rokoa is a psychotic killer, but she was lucid enough to still be useful last time. Messed up enough in the brains that a predator couldn't quite put the stopper on her murderlust. What the salikai are doing here may well be a threat to your entire species, so getting out of here, stopping them, is worth more than any individual's life or sanity. If you know enough about it to maybe tell any of your companions how, with emphatic instruction to only do it if it's a choice between that and death (or worse), it might be a good idea to pass it around.
>>
No. 498945 ID: b33427

>>498943
Unfortunately, the "needle trick" is something they can't just do. It takes lots of training for a neumono to channel all their empathic signals down one path where they can stick a needle in. There's just no time for the others to even begin to learn to do it. Plus, if they did try it, the jammer makes it impossible to determine if they're actually doing anything.
>>
No. 498947 ID: d6ef5d

>>498943
Rokoa didn't use the needle trick to try and block three stripes. She didn't know it back then- she picks it up sometime between the intermission and asteroid quest 1.
>>
No. 498951 ID: c4e5c2
File 136280485010.png - (16.75KB , 700x700 , 186.png )
498951

The needle trick. It is a good way to go to insanity. Rokoa was insane, but that may be because she is just insane on her own. I do not recall her ever saying she knew what the needle trick was... but, that would explain a thing or two. I don't recall her saying she didn't know what it was, and if she knows, the bitch would probably do it for fun. Yes, doing the needle trick to block empathy would be best if it's that or getting caught by the salikai, but even the needle trick needs some practice and training to hold it for any useful period of time. Damage on a brain system is already likely to happen by the time one can get to that level. I also will not teach my allies to do something that is only befitting of Rokoa. I still cannot think of her without getting agitated, if not pissed, which is not befitting me. So, enough on that.

It is true that as far as load goes, I have had it among the easiest. Even if I kept in physical shape for exactly this sort of scenario, it is not something I could expect of everyone, regardless of loads carried.

"We'll break for four or five hours. Katzati, take a nap first, you never got sleep. Same with Marra, but if you don't, check on Rokann, see if she is doing well. If so, please have Korli continue taking..." I whisper the next part to her to not trigger Rokann. "out bugs between rests." And turn to everyone again. "We also smell. Take a bath carefully, the water moves fast."
>"That about covers it." says Lucera. "For what we're doing here. But you, I and Kort have had the least work so far. What do you think about us, either together or splitting up, looking around and mapping out this string of dead ends and loops for a couple of hours? We all have enough mapping gear to not get lost."
>>
No. 498953 ID: 8b9215

Do not split up, gang.
>>
No. 498954 ID: f2c20c

>>498951
I don't think it's safe to ever have anyone other than Polo go out of the jammer field. Keep in mind there could be tunnels we don't know about all around us. With hunters in them. Within empathy range.

Aside from that issue, sure, let's do some exploratory work.
>>
No. 498956 ID: d6ef5d

Mapping the immediate area isn't a bad idea. Knowing the surroundings may help if the enemy get close, and there may be threats or resources nearby we should be aware of. (We might also might find a better hiding spot for a more permanent camp).

No one should be alone, though. Too easy to be compromised. ...he should be sure to check everyone who heads out when they return, though. Including us.
>>
No. 498964 ID: 9ddf68

Go out TOGETHER, i can not begin to count how many things could go wrong if you split up. just map the immediate area so you have an idea off were to go when you take off again, even you guys will need to sleep at some point lightest work loads or not.
>>
No. 498965 ID: d6ef5d

We have two jammers right? (One from the hunters, and the one Korli converted from the four stripes relay). That means splitting up is feasible- leave one at base, have have the non-Polo searches take the other. Protects them from empathy ID and predator broadcasts, at least.

Not sure the logistics of who's resting, watching the camp, and searching though.
>>
No. 498966 ID: 81cda3

Well, you did eat part of her. Maybe there's some scrap of knowing what she was capable of that passed over. As for not wanting to make anyone crazy, though... well, having a bunch of bugs in you, controlling you, seems based on similar principles to the needle trick, and I can't imagine it'd have less effects on the subject's mind. If Rokann's still not all right after having her bugs out, there wouldn't be as much to lose for her. Just a thought. As you say, enough on that.

Splitting up is a bad idea; if any enemy neumono gets in range of your companions without them being in the jammer field, all your walking is for nothing, not to mention the possibility of being captured and amnesia drone'd. I don't doubt Lucera thinks he's making sense, but it's possible he's itching about not feeling anything and wants to get a spot of empathy for comfort. They all might. You should go out, go a short distance in every direction you can, and see if you can sense anyone. If you can't, then let the others take a break from being jammed, but ready to duck back into the field when they can.
>>
No. 498976 ID: b33427

Alright, Lucera and Kort can head out with you, but they will have to coat themselves in glow-slug slime to camouflage themselves first. They're going to be taking a bath when they come back anyway, so it won't be too bad.

Map northward until it's a half-hour trip back to camp, return to camp, then do the same southwards. Mark intersections with witch way you went using a glow-slug, then wash the marks away as you head back. That way if you do get separated, or the people at camp have to run, they'll know which way you went.

Leave Viln at camp to guard, and also just in case they do have to run he can carry Rokann so she isn't left behind.

Make sure that when everyone gets back to camp, that Korli x-rays them, and you x-ray her and everyone else.
>>
No. 498982 ID: c4e5c2
File 136281093097.png - (6.47KB , 434x336 , 187.png )
498982

"We have two jammers, so we can have two groups, but for our exploratory group, we don't split up.""
>"Right."
"Are you getting bugged by the lack of empathy?"
>"Not particularly."
"Alright. Viln, stay here, and someone make sure to X-ray us when we get back. Lucera, Kort, slime yourselves."
>"Excuse me? I w.... erg, fine."

We spend the two hours uneventfully and wordlessly walking more.
>>
No. 498983 ID: c4e5c2
File 136281097319.png - (18.43KB , 700x700 , 188.png )
498983

We come back to see everyone still in one piece, and the sound of Rokann voicing her usual disdain about getting her bugs removed. She is a bit quieter, though. She looks to have around 48 bugs remaining.

I go to Katzati, after our x-rays, to upload our data to the master map. As suspected, there are no immediate paths west, and there is only one path north, at another river bank entry.

>"Kort and I are going to nap. After I... take a bath." Lucera states. "You can sleep too, but make sure more than one person is on watch."
>>
No. 498986 ID: f2c20c

>>498983
Oh dear. That's bad news on the map. We're at a dead end. Also, shouldn't we be heading towards the Salikai base eventually? We can't hide forever. It's literally impossible. I guess we could just swim in the river until it leads us out of the caves, and run away... but that could take so long the hunters might report back and manage to return to base to spread more bugs, leading to our leadership being compromised. With enough nanobots being constructed, the salikai could take over the ultrahive. That's an end of the world scenario for us.

...hmm, there is some silver lining here. Being at a sort of dead end means we're less likely to get headed off.

Check in on Rokann, ask how she's doing. Better, surely?
>>
No. 498987 ID: d6ef5d

>slimed
Oh that was just mean, even if it was for stealth. At least you got armor. (Karma's totally going to bite you in the butt for that later and force you to slime up naked).

Find anything of note scouting?

>camp management
Right, organize watch rotations, taking into account who's had to miss sleep with the last one being interrupted, and with differences in biology (Viln needs less shuteye).

Sleep as you need to, spend time trying to be productive otherwise (maintaining gear, figuring out how long the food we have will last, helping with Rokann, etc).
>>
No. 498990 ID: 9ddf68

well get some rest. we are all going to need our strength tomorrow when we have to cross that river. I'm also going to be that guy that jinxes everything but it has been pretty quiet since we got away from the hunter hive and other then some uncomfort this trip has be pretty peaceful.
How long do you think until it all goes to hell.
>>
No. 498993 ID: c4e5c2
File 136281429575.png - (21.51KB , 700x700 , 189.png )
498993

Having Lucera and Kort slime themselves without armor may have been mean, yes, but having us discovered because Lucera looks like a bullseye is also 'mean.' I suppose at the least, I will wash his clothes, and I do not believe in karma, because there is no suitably terrible end for the salikai at this point. It is wishful thinking that there is some balance in the universe.

I am not tired, so I check on Rokann, who is now allowed to rest.

"How are you doing?"
>"I'm getting torn up from the inside out and outside out."
"Hang in there."
>"Easy to do, cause there's no choice... Can I stretch? I've been in this position for almost a full day. Asked Marra, but said it wouldn't look good if it was her that let me."
>>
No. 498995 ID: f2c20c

Get Viln to hold her by the torso while she does it, and it'll be safe. Especially if you have her tethered to something too.
>>
No. 498998 ID: d6ef5d

She looks beat to hell, there. I'm not sure she poses much of a threat loose. (Unless she grabbed a weapon, or the enemy cam by right now).

Get Viln or one of the big-neumono to supervise her with you though. By yourself, your only option if something happened would be to shoot her.

Probably a good time to eat something, while we're at it. How we doing on food reserves?
>>
No. 498999 ID: 81cda3

I wouldn't have thought she'd want to stretch with a bunch of open and scabbed wounds on her. Isn't there a risk of infection from opening them up again, or at least of misaligning the tissues in the case of the deeper cuts?

Well, if you do want to let her, have someone else on hand, and see if you can only have her stretch part at a time.
>>
No. 499000 ID: 9ddf68

sure it's not like she really wanted to be here like this and it's not really her fault so just have someone nearby to hold on to her and maybe keep a rope or something tethered to her foot or something encase she (or the bug make her) runs for it.
>>
No. 499001 ID: 8b9215

"One limb at a time. The other 3 stay tied up."

Don't be an idiot and let her go.
>>
No. 499003 ID: de32da

>>499001

Yeah, this, one limb at a time with heavy restraint on the others, she'll understand, after all, it may hurt like a motherfucker to have us remove them like this, but at least she's still alive.

Also, we had OURSELVES scanned, but did we scan the party that actually stayed with her, I am assuming that you already did that but it never hurts to have confirmation.
>>
No. 499005 ID: b33427

Yeah, you'll let her stretch, but there's going to be plenty of precautions, both to prevent her from attacking anyone, and to keep her from running off.

Place a tether tightly around her neck and one ankle, and anchor them down. Then have Viln pick her up off the ground by the torso with both hands and keep holding her tightly while her leg binds are undone. Once she's done stretching her legs, bind only her ankles back together for now. Have Viln hold her upside down by her legs, then have someone else release her arms from their binds, but only have one out at a time. Once she's done, completely rebind her the way she was before.

Perhaps Rokann could be bound in a more comfortable position, where her legs aren't scrunched up into her chest. if you had a sturdy pole to put behind her to bind her legs and hands to. Or a strong board of some kind. There anything like that in what gear the group has? Maybe that folding table is strong enough?
>>
No. 499006 ID: c4e5c2
File 136281900455.png - (24.03KB , 700x700 , 190.png )
499006

I scan everyone once again just to be sure nothing changed.

"Arms, then legs, one at a time. Try not to reopen your wounds."
>"Thank you."
"Feeling better, mentally?"
>"It's hard to think, but I feel like I'm more in control, if you know what I mean."
"Alright. I'll look into a better way to restrain you."

I have Viln hold her and Katzati keep an eye on us. That, as well, goes smoothly.

Everything is going smoothly and I have learned to treat that as cause for worry. Between that and Rokoa, I am thinking that perhaps I did not come out of the last mission as mentally unscathed as I thought. I do not know what is more terrible, that I have begun to take every possible precaution for the slightest action, or that I have been proven perfectly justified in doing so.
>>
No. 499007 ID: c4e5c2
File 136281903536.png - (86.66KB , 700x700 , 191.png )
499007

With that done, I go be productive elsewhere.

Legendary super soldier and spy extraordinaire Polo gets a bite to eat and performs menial tasks. While tethered to a rock in case an earthquake happens, Katzati doesn't watch where she's walking, or I trip over nothing, each leading to my falling in the river.

>"What next?" Katzati asks.
"We can't hide forever. Eventually we do have to find an exit, or find the salikai base?"
>"Wh... the salikai base? Just... walk right in?"
"We won't ring their doorbell. There might not even be a 'we', as half of you are not suited to combat. I would be content with a single place where we can sleep easy for even just a few days, but can't rely on that."
>>
No. 499008 ID: f2c20c

>>499007
So long as we don't take excessive precautions, it's not harmful paranoia. I mean, it's not interfering with our operations. Maybe the rope tethering for washing laundry is a bit much though. Sheesh.

On the other hand maybe we're just on edge because nothing's happening? Keep in mind you reacted to the annoying animals following us by doing nothing. You didn't overreact there. Be cool.

Tell her you want to sneak behind enemy lines and try to reenact the same thing you did in your last mission, where you managed to get to the salikai communications room. Even if we, again, get surrounded by arkots, it'll be worth it. We'll have sent out a warning and confirmation that the salikai is here. The salikai will be swarmed, the hunter hive outnumbered. Even if you die in the process, it would be a victory.
>>
No. 499015 ID: 8b9215

Do whatever else you can to rest and recuperate.
>>
No. 499017 ID: b53faa

uh, guys? What if those "harmless" creatures are some sort of tracking device made by the salikai and set into the wildlife?
Not likely, perhaps, but something about them puts me at unease.
>>
No. 499018 ID: b53faa

>>499017
remember, they have proven to be masters of biological manipulation. I wouldn't put it past them to have figured out some way to have them transmit information without machinery somehow.
>>
No. 499021 ID: f2c20c

>>499017
What? No dude, we asked Viln. They're native fauna. Besides, if they were salikai tracking beasts we'd be knee-deep in hunters by now.

Are you TRYING to make her paranoid?
>>
No. 499035 ID: bf0685

hmm, I doubt it could harm to double check inventory & food supplies before we rest, always good to keep tabs of essentials
>>
No. 499037 ID: b53faa

>>499021
actually, yes! I am trying to push her a bit into crazyville, not to harm her cause or anything but as a sort of safety measure. Push her into the water so she learns how to swim sort of thing, only the water is her neuroses and the push is an errant thought here and there.
TL:DR I'm being an evil bastard.

>>
No. 499044 ID: d6ef5d

>I do not know what is more terrible, that I have begun to take every possible precaution for the slightest action, or that I have been proven perfectly justified in doing so.
Technically, it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.

You're being hunted by dangerous enemies who have proved to be one or more step ahead of you. Trying to second guess the next thing going wrong is a perfectly natural and healthy response- and it may very well keep you and the people depending on you alive. Yeah, maybe you're a little more jumpy than most people now, but oh well.

And I wouldn't worry too much about any mental damage from your previous mission. You were almost consumed by hate and rage at one point, but you still stopped short of killing Kort. And despite everything- you spared Rokoa (and you even still thought your hive was dead, at the time). And you put yourself at great risk trying to take the path that ended the war quickest, and saved the most lives even among the warhive (would have been a lot easier to let them all get killed). I'd say you've show remarkable mental fortitude and resilience.

Don't let the bad times get you down, Polo. Not the time to start doubting yourself.

>Wh... the salikai base?
I've survived one before. And our best bet might be to take out their predator. They integrated four stripes with the bug-tech, somehow. Without him, maybe they won't be able to control the hunter hive. Or maybe just less effectively.

>>499035
Yeah, we should do that.

>>499021
I agree. The animals are unlikely to be Salikai trackers, or we'd be screwed by now. Remember that Viln recognized these things- they've been behaving this way for generations- they aren't something new the Salikai introduced. We might as well worry about the invisible cameras we can't find. It doesn't help anything.

>>499037
>TL:DR I'm being an evil bastard.
That's not appreciated.
>>
No. 499055 ID: 81cda3

The salikai base offers opportunity for sabotage, even of taking out this problem for a long time, at least if they haven't found more predators. Or cloned Four Stripes somehow. Or something. Besides that, though, the salikai are guaranteed to have a back door exit, crazy prepared as they are. Or we might even hijack some of their comm equipment to get a message out. It's a high-reward target, though equally or more high-risk as well. Especially if they think Polo is in town.

Don't worry about your paranoia, Polo. So long as it's only when you're on the job, and remains justified, it's fine.
>>
No. 499063 ID: c4e5c2
File 136284901241.png - (8.49KB , 700x700 , 192.png )
499063

"I've survived one before. They have more resources than I would have thought possible, but their micromanagement is awful. At some point I will attempt to re-enact what I did last time. Sabotage, intel, or destruction. Plus, yes, the salikai have compromised a whole hive that was the one to come down. They bought themselves time, but eventually my hive, and I would think your hive, will miss us and start demanding more resources be put in here. Even if I die, as long as I can do significant damage, it'll be worth it."

I suppose all things considered, while I may have issues from my last mission, they are relatively paltry compared to honest PTSD or an equivalent. I can still function and perform intelligently, all things considered.

>"Geez, Polo..."

I will just have to get over these small issues, as they are still a source of undue agitation.
>>
No. 499064 ID: c4e5c2
File 136284902713.png - (18.69KB , 700x700 , 193.png )
499064

>"Don't think like that. We're going to make it out, alright?"

Another thing to take care of, I have had an unpleasant reaction to having a hand placed on my head. A common physical display of comfort being turned into mild agitation.

>"Er..."
"It's fine. I'm going to take a nap before we go."
>"I'm sorry."

I am still expected to direct where we are going next, despite having little to work with. I will also take inventory of our remaining supplies prior to napping.
>>
No. 499067 ID: d6ef5d

>Another thing to take care of, I have had an unpleasant reaction to having a hand placed on my head. A common physical display of comfort being turned into mild agitation.
Yeah, you'll have to work on that. You tiny, girl. You're going to have people doing that the rest of your life.

>I am still expected to direct where we are going next, despite having little to work with.
Well... our list of things to do works down to:

*Move until we have a hiding spot we feel moderately secure in.
*Explore area around camp (for resources, escape routes, early warnings, etc).
*Continue debugging
*Gather food. (Might as well take out the bird things when we need to go hunting. Then we get food, and we don't have to worry about them potentially being tracking devices anymore).
*Try and find an escape route and/or locate the Salikai base.
>>
No. 499075 ID: 78c6ea

Aww, Polo has PTSD just from Rokoa.
>>
No. 499076 ID: bf0685

hmm everybody's focused on murdering the bird... hows about this? ask Viln if it'd be possible to say tie a rope around it then use it as a form of pack-mule, lightening the load off everyones backs & potentially make it easier to traverse the tunnels for longer
>>
No. 499079 ID: eb682d

>>499076
We'd have to catch it first. Viln said they'd run if confronted and were fast. We'd then need to deal with it potentially running off with our supplies if it got loose of whoever was holding it somehow. We also don't know if it would start shrieking or something if we managed to capture it.
>>
No. 499093 ID: 81cda3

Hmm. There's an issue. The salikai will be wanting to cover themselves up. They can't do it by letting you go, and they can't do it by just killing you. Their only option to escape is to capture you all, or at least most of you, and mess with your memories so that you go out and report that everything's ok.

Of course, they can't do that to you, unless they implant you with bugs, maybe. But most likely they'll have you killed, and have the others say you died in an accident or an issue with the locals. So the thing to avoid most of all is the capture of your companions.

Actually, for all we know, they might already have Biles, and made him feed your hives a line about some cavein or something that has you incommunicado.
>>
No. 499095 ID: 9ddf68

Well check your stuff then take that northern passage ater your nap since that seems the only way to go.

Also you look adorable when someone pats your head
>>
No. 499096 ID: b33427

With what you have to go on, it's nearly a coin flip to choose direction... Go north. It's slightly better because it'll keep those longbeaks from following your group, and if the group does have to flee from up north, they can jump in the river and swim back to this camp site. Better ask Viln how long he can hold his breath for, just in case you all have jump in the water.

You and Viln will have to scout across the river before the rest follow, just so you're sure it's not just a dead end or something like that.

>Killing the longbeaks for food
Actually, this might be the best time to do this. There's a section of tunnels to the south of camp with only one entrance, and a long loopback in it. If the group goes in there and down the loopback to the end, then sends Viln and Marra back into the other end of the loopback while the rest of the group makes a barricade using the gear, we might be able to trap the longbeaks between the two groups. Maybe not enough to get them all, but enough to bash a few down. Run this idea past Viln and ask how likely it'd work.

>I have had an unpleasant reaction to having a hand placed on my head.
Yeah, the stress of this situation is starting to get to you and wind you up. It also might be that in some small way Katzati reminds you of Rokoa, even though, outside of being from a snow hive, she's nearly the opposite of that psycho.

Before suiting back up in your armor, take Katz aside and let her know that she shouldn't be sorry for trying to comfort you; You just have... issues, and all of this is bringing them slowly to the surface. ...And frankly, you could use some comforting now, to push the darkness back...

Out of nowhere, hug Katz, and let her hug you back. Clear your mind and let your tention melt into her warmth and softness. Think of better times, and center yourself. It's not as good with the jammer on, but it's something.
>>
No. 499097 ID: d6ef5d

>>499095
Actually, we'd just gone about as far west as we could. We could go north or south.

My first inclination would be to head sort of south anyways (we are in the NW corner of the valley, aren't we?) but really, whichever way goes deeper is probably still the answer.
>>
No. 499116 ID: c4e5c2
File 136286184972.png - (16.99KB , 700x700 , 194.png )
499116

"Don't feel sorry for it. I've got some issues."

>Hug Katzati
.... a compromise.

"Put your hand back."

I'll just retrain myself to learn that a hand on my head does not mean Rokoa. And Katzati is about the polar opposite of her. It would be easier if the jammer field were off, but if nothing else, physical contact can still breach a jammer to a small degree. Small, but there. For the sake of fairness, I let my empathy go for this.

"We'll move north, past the other river crossing. Hopefully that damn bird won't follow us."
>"Do you think it's an issue?"
"As long as it really is just a wildlife stalker, I suppose it isn't harmful, but I would rather it not be around at all."
>"I get you. It keeps just poking its head out and staring, too."

I probably need to work on this hand issue more than sleep, so we stay like this for awhile more.
>>
No. 499117 ID: c4e5c2
File 136286186313.png - (20.05KB , 700x700 , 195.png )
499117

Inventory is as expected. Somewhat less than two days of food now, plenty of rope, tools, a decent amount of medical supplies... the load is rather heavy, although I do not want to discard anything. There is not a single particularly heavy item that is dead weight, even our folding table is light. There are simply a lot of items.

We move around to go north. The longbeak, unfortunately, followed us through the river.

"How long can you hold your breath for, Viln?"
>"Under Voklit hair. Can breathe underwater."
"... oh."

Some more time passes before he speaks again.

"Odd smell." Viln says.
>"I assume it's not us."
"No."

Then I smell it. It is that wrong smelling, unmistakably distinct gas. Neumono hallucinogens.
>>
No. 499119 ID: 76b151

Good news. We're near enough to their base that they can flood the caves with gas.

Also good news. The gas relies on the link to work. The jammer should mitigate its effect.

Do we have air filters? Im kinda assuming its something that would come with as needed since they did use gas last time.
>>
No. 499120 ID: 81cda3

Turn on the seals on your suit, then tell everyone, then back everyone up the way you came, keeping calm and focused. Be on the lookout for an attack, or for the gas to continue spreading. The larger people are probably affected more slowly so have them stand guard while the rest of you wait and get whatever dose you've already gotten out of your system. If nothing happens, you and anyone else who has some sort of appropriate breathing apparatus will need to come back down here to investigate.

The gas may or may not be a danger to Viln. I doubt it will have its intended effect on him, but it might still be harmful or mind-affecting in some way. I don't know if any of you know how different voklit neurochemistry is from yours?
>>
No. 499121 ID: d6ef5d

Fuck. They found us. They can't possibly flood the entire cave with gas, they'd have to know close to where we are.

Either we walked pat a hidden camera, or the bird thing had monitors installed in it after all.

Close your armor's vents, like you were underwater. Your armor's missing a piece, but you should still be able to limit contaminated air getting to you (hopefully, with that, your past experience, your three stripes training, and holding your breath, you should be able to hold out long enough). Everyone else has to hold their breath, or break out masks or respirators, if you've got them.

Warn Viln that this is the gas you warned him about before. If we don't do something soon, he may be the only one left in his right mind. We have to get to clean air, or stop the gas.

Viln's got a superior sense of smell. Can he tell which direction the smell is coming from? That would allow the main party to try and move away, or for the two of you to go try and take out the source.

>Also good news. The gas relies on the link to work. The jammer should mitigate its effect.
It probably uses the link to build coherent, shared hallucinations. Without the link the effect may be diminished, or they might all just break off into their own delusions.
>>
No. 499124 ID: 9ddf68

you guys have gas mask right? if not have everyone move back until you all have clean air again and you and Viln can find where it's coming from. Also If you guys don't have gas mask then just put some cloth or something over your faces to at least lessen the effects.
>>
No. 499125 ID: 6b2fce

GAS MASKS

NOW
>>
No. 499127 ID: 8b9215

Use any filtration you have. Tell everyone about it.
>>
No. 499130 ID: b33427

...Fuck. They somehow know where you are. Either a hidden camera, or those damn longbeaks were rigged with remote cameras or trackers. Of course the salikai would take advantage of anything that follows intruders around. Should have killed those fuckin' peckers when we had the chance. Should kill them now if we can. Kill them, and butcher them to find the damn camera or tracker.

You know that this gas doesn't last long before breaking down, and has to be continually replaced. Also, since these caves don't have a ventilation system like the war hive's ship to stir it up and distribute it, it'll settle out along the floor and in lower areas from wherever it's piped in. Get to higher ground and it should be safe to breathe.

Whisper to Viln that this is the neumono crazy-making gas you mentioned earlier, and to turn around and head back. Motion to the rest of the group to turn around immediately and head back the way they came. Climb down and whisper to everyone that it's hallucinogenic gas, and to hold their breath. If the group has gas masks, get them out and put them on. If they don't, then we're just going to have to head back until the air is safe.

Gonna have to figure out if you and Viln should track down the source of the gas and risk a fight to disable it, or if the group should stick to the higher tunnels and try to avoid it.
>>
No. 499132 ID: d6ef5d

>birds or camera
Or we pinged some of their neumono who hit the edge of our jamming field (less likely, since we opted for a narrow bubble) or one of their miklik scouts got lucky and spied us (they are sneaky bastards, and as the CAI pointed out last time, not completely incompetent, even compared to Polo).
>>
No. 499136 ID: b33427

>>499132
Well, fuck. It could have come from anywhere, then. We could even be near the salikai's base, and they're flooding the nearby tunnels with gas as a precaution. Though, that might not make much sense, since it kinda gives their base position away.
>>
No. 499145 ID: f2c20c

I don't think they know where we are. They're probably just plain flooding the tunnels with the gas.

I think we're fucked, unless we can figure out which direction the gas is coming from and run in the opposite way. Going downstream on the river might work regardless of what direction it is though!
>>
No. 499147 ID: b33427

>>499145
That'd only work if they have enough gas for that. We'd have to ask Korli how hard it is to make that gas, and how long it takes to make it. If they couldn't have produced enough gas in the last three months to do that, then we're looking at them either knowing where we are, or dumping gas around someplace they don't want us to come. Unfortunately, the only way to tell if it's that is find the source of the gas.

If we're going to the gas source, then Polo's helmet air filtration should still work if the helmet is compartmentalized from the rest of her armor. Even if it isn't she could work with Korli to stuff something under the neck armor to seal it up well enough.
>>
No. 499150 ID: c4e5c2
File 136286902647.png - (21.83KB , 700x700 , 196.png )
499150

"Hold your breath!" I say in a muffled shout behind me. "Get our gask masks on!" We did bring some, although only a few made it in the retreat. We have 4. I seal my armor. It is expected that I have excellent resistance against this, but of course I would not rely on that.

"Viln, do you know where it is coming from? This is the hallucinogen I told you about."
"Downward from low cave. Bad air is rising."
"Everyone move back, we're going back up to the river. Viln, was that longbeak one bird with multiple heads, or multiple birds?"
"Many heads." Something about the way they moved told me that.

I may wish to investigate the source, but since we do not have enough gasmasks for everyone, it would put a few of us at high risk. There is also an overall detriment of air that could catch up with us if we spend too long.

"Korli, how cheap is the gas to make for the salikai?"
>"I'm still working with outdated info. It's possible they could've gotten it down to such strength that they could afford to dilute it and double their reserves or something, and... I don't know, last I knew we didn't mass produce it because we hardly knew how well it worked." she answers. I would hope that the Salikai do not have enough gas to fill the entire cave, but knowing our precise location is not any better.

I rush back to the new front of the retreating line, and see the bird poking its heads out. I may wish to kill it, but the gunshot is still an issue. Or gunshots, given it has multiple heads.
>>
No. 499153 ID: 81cda3

>>499150

Given how humungous its eyes seem to be, I'm not sure shooting it in the head will do more than blind it. Probably keeps its brains in the central body.
>>
No. 499154 ID: f2c20c

>>499150
Get your gun out, and get a look at the MAIN BODY this time. It's been hiding its main body all this time. Maybe it's a hunter with a camera disguised as a cluster of longbeak heads.

If it's really just a longbeak, continue to ignore it and move past it to check out behind it.
>>
No. 499160 ID: d6ef5d

>4 masks
You can seal your suit instead for a while, Rokann is tied up and doesn't matter, so that leaves Kork, Korli, Kazati, Lucera, Marra. Hmm. Still one short.

>situation
They either know where we are are are closing in on us, or they don't- and are flooding the lower levels of the caves with gas to try and drive us back towards the hunters.

If they already have made us, killing the bird won't change that- but it might prevent them from continuing to monitor us if that's how they did it.

If they haven't made us, killing the bird won't change anything, and has a small chance of compromising our position.

Er. Not sure how to resolve that.
>>
No. 499162 ID: b33427

Distribute the gas masks to Marra, Katzati, Korli, and Lucera. Gag Rokann so she can't make any noise once the hallucinations hit. Sorry, Kort, but you're going to have to be bound, gagged, and carried like Rokann if the gas catches up.

>>499154
Yeah, this is a good idea. Pull your rifle, and charge the longbeak so it runs away down a straight tunnel, that way you have a clear view of its body. If there's something obviously wrong about it, then shoot it. Otherwise hold your fire and continue going back to the river, but keep your rifle ready. If it turns out to be just a longbeak, then a gunshot now would just give your position away.

There is a way you could trap and kill it without shooting it, if the group can get back to the river. Put Viln in front and have him climb down into the river and hide where he can watch the tunnel. The rest of the group will pass over, and the longbeak will follow them. Then Viln gets out of the river a little after its passed. Meanwhile the rest of the group will stop two intersections away, then head back. Between Viln and the group, the longbeak will retreat into that dead end side tunnel, where we'll block it in and beat it to death. Then we'll butcher it and search for any devices on it.
>>
No. 499164 ID: d6ef5d

>>499162
The only problem with using the visual examination is it doesn't tell us if there's just a camera chip and transmitter hidden behind one of those enormous eyes. (They wouldn't even need a control mechanism, if these things follow people already).

...although an x-ray would show you if it's got hardware installed.
>>
No. 499165 ID: b33427

>>499162
Actually, change of plan with the longbeak. Instead of trying to corner it in a dead end tunnel, push it back so the only place it has to go is jumping into the river, to be washed away by the current. That way your group doesn't end up cornered in a dead end while beating the damn thing to death. Won't get the meat or a chance to check if it had any salikai devices on it that way, but the risk of being trapped is too high otherwise.

>>499164
...Oh, god! Why didn't we think to do that earlier? Hold still and x-ray the damn bird, then charge forward so you get a look at its body. Look for anything that is obviously technological.
>>
No. 499167 ID: c4e5c2
File 136287398523.png - (26.92KB , 700x700 , 197.png )
499167

As far as armor sealment goes, my helmet is also compartmentalized from the rest, so my busted left armpiece is no matter for the current threat.

I run after it. Once I get closer, it bolts off as expected. Viln was not lying, it is fast, so I pull my pistol instead of attempting to unbuckle my sniper. There is nothing unusual about the body, and a flick to my x-ray mode shows nothing out of the ordinary, so that may not be the source of the problem after all.
>>
No. 499168 ID: c4e5c2
File 136287403037.png - (76.13KB , 700x700 , 198.png )
499168

We make it back to the river. The smell is gone, so it does not move quickly.

>"We've got to kill the bird." Lucera says.
"I think it's clean, but we can surround it, so it will have nowhere to run. Then attempt to stab it to death."
"Longbeak death cries also annoying. Last forever, very loud."
"If we surround it by the river, we might be able to get it to just jump in to avoid us."

Since Rokann is already compromised, the only person without a gas mask is Kort. Before I can decide whether or not to tie him up to be safe at the downside of needing him carried, we all hear a small, steady noise of something coming down the caves. It sounds like a small helicopter. It is coming from the south and upward, the original direction we were at before crossing the river again. It is effectively impossible to tell how far away it is.

From what we saw, everywhere north is all downhill, probably to the gas.
>>
No. 499170 ID: 76b151

Well now, a camera drone. That means they haven't seeded these caverns with minicameras.

Destroying it would be bad. As would being seen. ... if we all held our breath in the river we could let it pass by.
>>
No. 499172 ID: d6ef5d

Damn. Camera drone. If it's coming down though, would that be from the hunter hive? Or would they not have been issued that kind of gear since the expectation would be the enemy CAI could hack it?

The drone has to have ears of some kind. A noisy gunshot or prolonged bird-brain death cries aren't something we can risk, at the moment.

Well, regardless of whether that's a Salikai drone, or a hunter drone, we need to evade it without being seen. And then either get the hell away from the gas or disable it at the source.
>>
No. 499173 ID: 8b9215

Into the gas we go. The gas won't report our position and sic the entire hive on us.

We can share a mask with two people like that passing the scuba breather thing back and forth. If that isn't possible, Have Marra put a rope around Kort's neck like a leash. It won't impede him in moving with the group and will impede him from running away for any reason.
>>
No. 499176 ID: d6ef5d

>>499170
Problem with hiding underwater: the damn bird would probably come up to the edge of the river to watch us and give away our position.
>>
No. 499177 ID: f2c20c

We're trapped. They probably have something set up downstream to catch us if we run that way, because they know these tunnels. They're trying to drive us that way.

Let's analyze the situation. A drone means there needs to be someone within range to operate it, but it also means they're using it remotely so they probably won't be very close. What is the max range for a helicopter drone? It could be that the only thing that way is the drone, and it's a feint. Unfortunately if we DO go that way, there's almost nowhere new for us to go.

The gas requires a machine to pump it, which requires people to maintain it, but it ALSO means they have gas masks on. If we can ambush the team operating the gas, we can get another two gas masks to fully cover our team. Also, we have branching paths that direction, so we might be able to avoid the gas generator entirely by just going further downhill. The gas rises, so it will be coming down a single path! Viln should be able to tell which path to go to avoid the generator, or we can choose to fight whoever's guarding it.

So, we can run into a likely trap, call their bluff with the drone(and get spotted), or take a chance in the gas to either run or fight.

The only real chance I see here to avoid getting spotted is to go into the gas and pick a path that the generator's not pumping into.
>>
No. 499179 ID: de32da

Our past experience with the river has shown us that it is a BAD IDEA to go into it, there would be virtually no chance of us staying as a group if you go down the water route.
>>
No. 499180 ID: d6ef5d

>The gas requires a machine to pump it, which requires people to maintain it, but it ALSO means they have gas masks on.
No. We know for a fact at least some species are not affected. (Likely all others, since the hallucinogen is tailored to mess with neumono empathy. Might work on predators I suppose, but their physiology might be different enough to be safe). None of the Salikai troops guarding or in the war-hive bridge needed to wear gas masks. The pumps / generators are likely tended by arkots, mikliks, and/or voklit, none of which should need masks.
>>
No. 499181 ID: b33427

Fuck, it's a flying recon drone. Why didn't we think of that? Of course they'd be using those to search the caves. Only question is if it's an autonomous AI controlled one, or if there's a group of enemy nearby controlling it. We might end up having to tangle with them if they are nearby, even if we do manage to evade the drone.

As quietly as you can, tell everyone it's a flying recon drone, and to head back the way you just came. Be as silent as they can across the river, then pick up the pace once out of the water. Might need to explain what the drone is to Viln once you're far enough away from it.

We'll have Lucera and Korli hold their breath and put their gas masks on Kort and Rokann every ten minutes so they can take some deep breaths before holding them again. The reason to do it for Rokann is so she isn't freaking out for a long time after you eventually get out of the gas.

>>499177
Since the salikai have almost all non-neumono forces, those manning the gas generator wouldn't even need gas masks. And even if they did have them, they'd be the wrong size and shape for neumono faces. So there's really no reason to seek out the gas generator. We should pick a route that stays away from it if we can.
>>
No. 499182 ID: d6ef5d

>So there's really no reason to seek out the gas generator.
Well, except, maybe taking out the gas generator. It is a problem, after all.

And the only routes away from it would be going higher into the cave, towards the hunters. And the gas line will only continue to creep higher the longer the generator runs.
>>
No. 499191 ID: c4e5c2
File 136287901793.png - (222.60KB , 700x700 , 199.png )
499191

No good. I handwave us to move back downwards to the gas.

Initially, we marginally move into branching tunnels to see if gas doesn't go down some, but it's no good, it seems like it's leveled out more by elevation than individual tunnels, except for a couple of deadends. Katzati thinks this means that the non-deadend tunnels are interconnected at some point lower down.

We swap our gas masks every once in awhile. I did find two items I should keep in mind. A partially filled air tank with about an hour's worth of air, and a small metal detector, not like we have the time to scan the walls with it.

Since we are only somewhat short on gas masks, air should not be a big issue unless we have to try to sleep inside of the gas, so we will be fine on that front.

There is a source of light up ahead, however.
>>
No. 499192 ID: f2c20c

Do we have a hand mirror or something so we can peek around the corner without exposing ourselves?
>>
No. 499195 ID: d6ef5d

Swapping masks will work for a while with minimal exposure, I guess. Seeing as how individual neumono can hold their breath from anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour.

>light source
Sneaky investigation time. It's unlikely to be an exit (because then air would be escaping and Viln would have noticed the air quality getting better). That means it's probably artificial light- most likely produced by your enemies. (Rokann's gagged, right?).

>>499192
We have a knife.
>>
No. 499202 ID: b33427

Stop, motion for everyone to hold still, and listen for any sounds up ahead. What kind of light is it? Glow-slug, electric, or something else? Is it holding still or moving? Is it moving towards or away from your group?

If the light is moving towards the group, motion for everyone to quickly move back. You want them to get around a bend in the tunnel, or down a side passage before the light gets here. You can peek back from there to see who or what is coming.

Otherwise, approach the corner, get low to the ground, and poke whatever reflective surface you have handy down there just far enough out to check where the light is. Make sure to angle it you don't reflect it back by accident.

There is one thing you can guess pretty confidently though; Whoever is using that light is almost certainly not a hunter, since they have fancy optics like your helmet visor has, and so wouldn't even use lights.
>>
No. 499203 ID: c4e5c2
File 136288146255.png - (19.85KB , 700x700 , 200.png )
499203

I do not hear noise, so I get low, motion everyone to hold still, and use the knife. I am not positive what it is I am looking at, but it is something. Although I am careful not to reflect light back, and my first instinct is to yank my knife back, I am not able to say with confidence that even a small knife poking out was not seen. Unless I start rotating the knife around to look more, I don't see the source of light or if there is anything around besides... that.

Rokann has been quiet. Especially quiet.

It just occurred to me that while radio range around here must be short because of all of these bends and tunnels, Rokann's remaining bugs might still be trying to broadcast outward and try to link up with whatever relay Four Stripes was hooked up to.
>>
No. 499204 ID: f2c20c

>>499203
There's nothing we can do about the bugs except extract them or kill Rokann. We're not killing her.

Ask Viln about the thing you're seeing. Quietly.
>>
No. 499205 ID: 76b151

ANother denizen of these caverns maybe? Ask Viln
>>
No. 499207 ID: de32da

>>499205

I think that's a Miklik mutant, and not just a creature that just happens to have a fuckton of eyes.
>>
No. 499208 ID: d6ef5d

What the heck is that? Those things kind of look like... leaves? Could it be some kind of miklik? They're part plant.

Or I suppose it could just be an animal looking plantlike for camo. Are those white spots extra eyes? Or light emitting?

How big is that? Hard to tell from that perspective, but is looks big.

Too bad you can't really ask Viln what it is if we're this close and trying to be quiet.

>Rokann has been quiet. Especially quiet.
For how long? Can you remember when she last made a normal noise?

It's kind of a given that her bugs would try to give us away when they can. Regrettably, there's no way to avoid that until we've finished debugging her.

Unless we were willing to kill her, but I don't think we are. Besides, even then, her bugs might not shut up for a while.
>>
No. 499210 ID: b33427

Looks like a mutant miklik and not some underground creature. A real funky looking miklik too. You can see that it's wearing clothes, if you need confirmation. Just gotta hope all those eyes are actually just fake eye-spots and not real eyes.

Hold the knife still for a little bit and see if the miklik moves or makes any indication its seen you. Watch for any of its eyes looking right at you for any length of time. If it makes no indication its seen you, very, very slowly pull your knife back, watching the whole time for if it reacts.

If you get away without it noticing you, back petal to the group and tell them what you saw, and head back to follow a different route. Also check if Rokann is all there as best you can without removing her gag. There's nothing to do about the bugs, but if there's a relay nearby you've got to get away quick.
>>
No. 499213 ID: 8ef0aa

Don't move movement brings attention with it. Just see what it does and be ready to pull out your gun and blow its damn head off
>>
No. 499231 ID: c4e5c2
File 136289018761.png - (26.04KB , 700x700 , 201.png )
499231

I am relatively sure that anything green is not part of the local fauna. I will assume it is a particularly mutated, enormous miklik, and I slowly retract my knife. I cannot say for sure if those were real eyes, but they were not the source of the light. Perhaps he didn't see me, at least based on the fact that we are not neck deep in hunters. All show or fake eyes, I suppose.

When I look back, I see Lucera staring at Rokann at her new, barely-more-comfortable position, so I head over. She is breathing sharply, despite there being gas around and she is without a gas mask. She does not look right. Her eyes are darting around. It is likely the hallucinogen. I don't stare at her for long, but it is getting worse, and she is beginning to hyperventilate.
>>
No. 499232 ID: f2c20c

Someone should share their gas mask with her. Why aren't we already doing that?!

Also let's go down a different path to avoid the mutated thing.
>>
No. 499233 ID: de32da

In addition to the lack of gas-mask rotation with her, why isn't she gagged?
>>
No. 499238 ID: d6ef5d

>I am relatively sure that anything green is not part of the local fauna.
Yeah, and fake leaves wouldn't exactly be useful camo down here.

>Rokann
...so she's not part of the gas mask rotation, and she's not gagged? That's not good.

We'll either have to offer her a mask, or ask her what she sees, and try and reassure her within the scope of her vision.

...actually, the real problem is if there's noise, you guys are about to alert that monstrous miklik. And whatever else is around that corner.
>>
No. 499240 ID: c4e5c2
File 136289172923.png - (23.04KB , 700x700 , 202.png )
499240

We were sharing a gas mask with her once we decided to go back into the gas to avoid the helicopter, but we were also under the impression she would stick to holding her breath when she did not have a gas mask. But here she is, hyperventilating away.

I also notice her gag is off. I whisper, as low as I can, to Lucera.
"What happened to her gag? If you can answer without speaking."

Lucera, who is currently holding his breath and has the sense to not risk breathing in by speaking, gnashes his teeth and makes a demonstration of swallowing. I will assume Rokann's devouring of a gag happened just now, otherwise I would expect it would have been mentioned.
>>
No. 499241 ID: f2c20c

>>499240
Give her a gas mask immediately. Tell her she's under the effects of a hallucinatory gas, and she just needs to breathe through the mask for a while. From now on have her exclusively wearing the gas mask. I can only assume the bugs made her breathe the gas. It might be a good idea to also blindfold her while we're in the gas.

Whatever we do, we'd better do it on the move, because that mutant is still there and it will hear us!
>>
No. 499242 ID: d6ef5d

Oh. The bugs kicked in. They didn't let her hold her breath, and they made her eat the gag. If she doesn't know what's going on, they'll have an easier time controlling her.

This is bad. We can't knock her out, and if she doesn't keep quiet, she's going to force a confrontation with the miklik and any friends he has around that corner.

You need to either get her calm, get her gagged, or prepare to jump those jerks before they can jump you.
>>
No. 499245 ID: b33427

Dammit. Should have figured the bugs would do something like make her keep breathing when she shouldn't or make her eat her gag. Would have kept her gas mask on all the time in that case. Gonna have to do something fast. If she starts yelling and screaming, things are going to get real bad, real fast.

Get Marra to take her gas mask off so Rokann can see her face and have her gently put the mask on Rokann; Hold it on if she doesn't have time to do the straps. Marra's been Rokann's friend for a long time, so she's least likely to cause her to freak out, as long as she doesn't make any sudden moves, but she should be ready to clamp Rokann's mouth shut if she's inhaling to yell or something. Perhaps she could try placing her hand on Rokann's head to make even a small empathic link to try and calm her, or would that make thing worse?

At the same time, have everyone start moving away from the giant mutant miklik, just in case it does get alerted to our position.
>>
No. 499251 ID: fb528f

>>499245

Do this and get Viln into a firing position if the miklik makes a move towards you.
>>
No. 499252 ID: c4e5c2
File 136289486245.png - (1.96KB , 250x250 , 203.png )
499252

I motion to Marra, already nearby, to get her gasmask on Rokann and try to calm her down while we get out of here. Marra seems successful.

We move away as swiftly as I could ask for, and quieter than ever at that. Once at the intersection, the luck with Rokann turns sour again. We hear a helicopter drone, and footsteps. The helicopter is southwest, from where we came. There are footsteps coming from our northeast, and the miklik was northwest. As usual, it is hard to tell how far away the threats are.
>>
No. 499256 ID: f2c20c

>>499252
I hope our stalker gets spooked by the drone.

Go northeast and figure out which dirction in that fork the footsteps are coming from. Go the other way.
>>
No. 499258 ID: d6ef5d

Ah. Surrounded. Lovely.

...the drone would be the easiest to subdue, but taking it out would alert the enemy command the quickest. Whatever the footsteps are from is likely easier to take down than the big miklik.

Obviously, we'd prefer not to alert them at all, but if we have to kill or disable a patrol quietly to slip by, we will. (Which might involve you sneaking ahead of the group, and ambushing the patrolee with your knife or something).

>As usual, it is hard to tell how far away the threats are.
I don't suppose anyone with a bigger model set of ears could provide a better estimate?
>>
No. 499259 ID: 735f4f

Well what path has the most exits if we have to engage one of the threats? The drone will alert people instantly once taken down. The Miklik and mystery footsteps should provoke a slower response if attacked. Unless we can hide somewhere and let them pass us by.
>>
No. 499268 ID: b33427

Just figured it out: It's the bugs in Rokann that are giving your position away. She's close enough to a relay that the bugs are linking to it, so they know she's nearby. There might even have been another relay you passed earlier, and that let 'em on to your general location. And there's nothing you can do about it now... Dammit.

First thing, tell everyone to get their weapons out and ready, but not to fire unless things go bad. Ready your rifle as well, or your pistol if you don't have time for the rifle.

If the path to the northeast branches, get everyone up to the branch and listen carefully for which path the footsteps are coming from, then you all go down the path without them.

Otherwise, have everyone run back towards the heli-drone. Maybe you'll spook the longbeak and it'll run right into the drone, destroying it, but that's really not likely. Have Viln move well ahead of the group, and when he sees the drone, he's to grab and smash it as he passes it. That'll just tell them that he's down here, not the whole group. Then everyone is to get up to the river, dive in, and swim to the previous camp site to get out.

...There's also a third option, but you will not like it, at all: Pull the gas mask off Rokann, cut her loose, drop her at the intersection, get everyone else up the northwest tunnel, and watch from around the bend. The enemy will find her, figure she got away from your group and ran down here. Then your group will follow them as they take her away. She'll be so full of hallucinogenic gas, that she won't be able to tell them anything for quite awhile.
>>
No. 499269 ID: 9ddf68

how heavy do the footsteps from the group sound? do you think it is the hunter hive or more of Viln's people? If it is the hunter hive do you think they would have gas mask because if not then the gas around you might actually cover you making the hunter hive less effective since they will be tripping balls. Anyway you guys also need to get out of the gas so I say go whatever way leads up and see if you can't find yourselves a clean air pocket.
>>
No. 499271 ID: c4e5c2
File 136289893008.png - (28.45KB , 700x700 , 204.png )
499271

If I had to guess, I think it is a hunter, but they are well armored and likely have sealable armor like mine.

I make handsignals for weapons out and to only fire if fired upon or similarly dire circumstances.

We run northeast. We get there in time to sense that the footsteps are coming from the north, although they are not producing any light that I can see, but they are around a bend anyway. We run to the more east path to avoid them, but they catch up before we all get out of sight. Marra's shoulder is shot. She doesn't break her stride, but we've been spotted.

This passage also appears to be leading upwards, it may come back out of the gas.
>>
No. 499272 ID: f2c20c

>>499271
Well, shit. Get up on your walking turret so you can return fire without breaking stride. Or are you skilled enough to snap shot with good accuracy while running?

Do whatever! Shoot back!
>>
No. 499273 ID: 9ddf68

If we are going to fight then We really need to get to an area without gas because we only have so many gas mask but if we can't get out of the gas before we are forced into a fight I say give all the gas mask to the solders of the group and make a stand then after that little fight move your ass until you find a gas free area and recover if you can.
>>
No. 499276 ID: d6ef5d

Well, great. One gunshot won't slow her down much, but the damage is done. We've been found. That gunshot will alert the done and the miklik to come this way.

Even worse, we're now fighting and/or running in the gas. That's going to make handing masks around harder, and exertion / injury is going to make people want to breather. At least we're headed up, but there will be more searchers there.

>hunter
Well, we don't want to kill them necessarily, but if we can't lose them, we may have to shoot them. Explosive snipe to the face? I mean, sure, it's load, but our only other option to shut down someone in armor is Viln's gun, which is worse, and probably more deadly.
>>
No. 499278 ID: c4e5c2
File 136290087635.png - (26.46KB , 700x700 , 205.png )
499278

Art error: Gas masks should have been on Korli/Marra in the previous updates.

I get on Viln and turn around to get a better shot if I have to. Katzati and Korli are the slowest ones, but they move as best as they can and Marra shoves them forward if they fall back too far. If we are being chased, then we are faster.

I don't bother thinking about which branching paths to take, they all look the damn same. It doesn't stop me from choosing poorly, and the path narrows out before it dips, eventually appearing to go at an extremely sharp incline down. I saw two other paths on the way here, and at a full sprint, we should be able to reach the previous one in one or one and a half minute, and the second to last path in around 4 or 5 minutes.

Masks are rotated again since this might be as close to a breather as we're getting.
>>
No. 499279 ID: f2c20c

>>499278
No way are you faster. They're not chasing us. They want us alive, so they're getting reinforcements, enough to ensure they can get us alive. That, or they can't track us and took a wrong turn... but that doesn't make sense, they should be able to hear you.

Retreat to the previous intersection at least to see if we're blocked and what our pursuers are doing.
>>
No. 499280 ID: d6ef5d

>If we are being chased, then we are faster.
It's likely that the friggen hunter is smart enough not to pursue you too closely while outnumbered. This is a coordinated effort to get you- it would be much smarter for him or her to report in and get reinforcements to close the noose.

>backtrack to 1 min or 5 min
Er, 1, I guess? That puts us going SW.

Problem is we're the hunted right now. We're facing superior forces, and making decisions out of context and with little information. If we can't get some breathing room (in more way than one) we're going to be caught.
>>
No. 499281 ID: 9ddf68

they might be trying to funnel you into a trap or kill zone so if you think ALL of you can make it back to one of those side paths then take them but at the same time they could be waiting for reinforcements and if they get enough people with them then they can just put a group down every path and going back to one of those side paths will just wast time and put them one step closer to finding all of you. Or maybe lucks on your side for once and the miklik mutant thing was attracted by the gun fire and is now fighting the hunters... and if that is the case and we aren't hearing any gunfire that means it A) wasn't as tough as we thought it was or B) took out the entire group in the short time you have been running and if that one is the case you're stuck down here with that thing and god knows how many more are down here.
>>
No. 499283 ID: c4e5c2
File 136290304603.png - (29.25KB , 700x700 , 206.png )
499283

Considering the way Korli and Katzati are wheezing, though, I would be surprised if we have speed over hunters.

"Viln, are you in good shape? Can you carry Korli?"
"Yes."

Korli and Lucera give their gas masks to Kort and Marra. I lead on backwards to the previous intersection, carefully, to find that are not blocking this intersection. Which leads me to believe that either this other path is either somewhere they would like us to go, or it is just another deadend.
>>
No. 499284 ID: f2c20c

>>499283
Sounds like the sensible thing to do is to go down that pit. How would we do that? Do we have a way for viln to go down? Like, would our grappling hook support his weight?

If it can, um... someone fighty should go first and someone fighty and light should be the last to go down.
>>
No. 499295 ID: 1546a9

go back to where you were originally going. proceed.
>>
No. 499296 ID: d6ef5d

I suppose that means we head back to the next turn off.

Although the problem with this logic is in order to know we're going the right way / not to a dead end we're going to have to punch past the enemy at some point.

>>499284
We don't have the time or gear to take the whole party on a vertical descent. It would have been problematic before, and the prospect is worse now, considering we're closely pursued and surrounded by gas.

I guess we lost the bird thing at some point? All this doubling back we've been doing lately and we never saw it.
>>
No. 499304 ID: b33427

The reason that the hunter scouts aren't coming right after you is that they're waiting for reinforcements. They likely sent a runner up to the nearest radio relay to call in more forces. That means that very soon all the exits from this section of the caves is going to blocked off. You can't just run away now, 'cause you have no idea what is down these tunnels, and they do.

The best option you have right now is to head back the way you came and punch through to get away, while you still can. They're expecting you to run, so instead you'll fight back. You might even get lucky in taking down the hunters and get their map as well as any other guns, ammo, and armor.

Ask Korli what happens if two empathic relays connected to the same source get too close to each other. Do they pick up and amplify feedback into each other, creating an empathic "screech?" 'Cause if they do, then maybe she could switch the one you have back into relay mode, and you carry it out to flip on while in range of the other relay. Maybe it'll feedback so much that Four Stripes will get "deafened" for a bit. It'll at least screw up his hold on the hunters around here.

Get down from Viln and get ahead of the group, out of group's jammer range. That way you can sense if there's any relays around. You might even be able to sense where the hunters are, since for Four Stripes to work most effectively they can't be under the effect of a jammer. You should probably stay off of Viln's shoulder when fighting hunters or anyone with guns anyway, since it makes you a big open target. Better to hide behind his legs and fire from there.

You sprint ahead to the next intersection, while the rest of the group takes a slower pace. Check around the corner with your knife, then proceed if it's clear to the next corner and check that one. If that one is clear, wait for the group to catch up, then proceed to attack the hunters.
>>
No. 499315 ID: c4e5c2
File 136294205566.png - (29.99KB , 700x700 , 207.png )
499315

>Ask Korli what happens if two empathic relays connected to the same source get too close to each other.
The same as if there is only one.

Viln should be able to have his weight supported by the grappling hook. It is strong enough to support at least a few large neumono, so if Viln rappels down alone, it should be fine. Ultimately, the only danger is that we are going to the unknown. The hole could narrow down and turn out to be too small. It could lead to hostile wilderness or hunters. It could drop me off right into Four Stripes bunker allowing us to shoot him and also find out that his room is right next to the salikai central control panel that controls everything, is left unguarded, letting us destroy it and ruin everything the salikai has except for the telecoms that allow us to report in to all of the non infected neumono. We just don't know.

Katzati says that she hears water on the south. Likely a river, possibly another dead end.

But I don't want to go in blindly yet. I move back northwest to the second previous intersection, not necessarily to fight, but to see what is going on back there. If it is just a couple of hunters and a miklik, we may be able to punch past through them and lose them in the caves again before reinforcements arrive.

So I have everyone stay far enough back that their lights won't reach me, and I move through with night vision outside of jammer range.

I find a couple right at the intersection. Fighting through might be possible, but casualties on our side far from implausible. They are also operating in pitch black. One of them must be those genetically grown giants. Either they taught them how to use technology or made new giants, but either way I will assume their old giants do not use loincloths and spears anymore.

I can sense both of them. They are waiting to attack, and the big one is unreasonably excited to do so.
>>
No. 499316 ID: 9ddf68

well unless you think you can take both of them right here and now I think it would be best head back to the group. If you do fight them aim for their heads so the gas will miss with them.
>>
No. 499317 ID: 8b9215

HE round to the head of the biggin. Run like a motherfucker.
>>
No. 499318 ID: d6ef5d

>They are also operating in pitch black.
Assuming they don't have IR or night vision modes in their helmets.

>fight?
...I don't like these odds. They're both armored, and we only have a few weapons that will punch through armor, (explosive sniping, Viln's gun, and not sure what else) and a giant will take a lot of hurt to go down. Plus, those damn bugs are going to keep them conscious longer than they should (almost forcing us to kill them. The hunters don't really deserve to die for being enslaved, but we may not have a choice).

And I don't see us making it through bloodlessly. Any injuries are going to slow us down against the pursuit that's sure to be coming.

Kind of tight on options though. Our alternative is the vertical descent, which will take who knows how long to get everyone down (assuming it's a viable path), leads to the unknown, and will trap us well below the gas line (which will be a problem when it becomes time to sleep).

If you do attack, obviously we want to use surprise in our favor. The smaller hunter isn't wearing the ear armor- you could snipe him right through that opening and put him out of the fight, then everyone else opens up on the giant and puts her down before she can do much.

Any sense from the non-giant how long he plans to be waiting?
>>
No. 499329 ID: b33427

This fight is doable, if you can disable their weapons. Once their big guns are down, they'll only have pistols and knives. Then your group can dog-pile and pummel them

An AP round through the side of that big MG's firing mechanism would render it useless. What's that other weapon the giant has? A grenade or rocket launcher? Think you could put another AP round through that before they can react?

Alright, here's the plan. Run back quietly and get Viln and the group ready. Have Viln drop Rokann, ready his gun, and take a lantern with him. Everyone else drop everything but one jammer, lights, and weapons. Dial the jammer back to just far enough that everyone can bunch together in it.

Lead Viln forward in the dark by having him hold his hand on your head, and everyone else hold onto his tail. Go slow enough they don't make noise. Leave the rest of the group back so their jammer doesn't reach the hunters, then move forward with Viln. Tell them that once the fighting starts, they're to turn their lights on, crank the jammer to max range, and charge up into the fight, leaving the jammer just around the corner. You want them to get to close combat range and pile

Before reaching the intersection, whisper to Viln that once you fire, he's to turn on the lantern and roll it past the corner, then step out and fire a single three-round burst into the giant before charging it. Once at the intersection, take aim on the giant's big MG, and blow out it's firing mechanism with an AP round, shoot the other big weapon with an AP round, and then take aim at the short hunter's helmet with a regular round. Then join the fray with the rest of the group.
>>
No. 499330 ID: 1546a9

you can't assume you'd be able to kill them before reinforcements arrive. go back and have everyone go down the rabbit hole quickly, before we're found.
>>
No. 499332 ID: b33427

>>499329
Crap! Change in plan! The hunter is on the radio, and that likely means that the rest of the forces are within its limited range. That means there won't be enough time to get away after taking them down, especially if you take casualties. No choice left here: You gotta head back.

Get everyone back to the intersection before the hole. Set the grappling hook and go down the hole yourself to check it out first. Figure out a set of rope tugs to communicate beforehand.

If it's no good, have Viln pull you back up quickly and everyone head down the south tunnel towards the water noise. If it looks alright, have Viln come down first, then everyone else. Throw the gear down that can take a hit and have Viln catch it. Last person should either be able to climb down, or willing to jump down and be caught by Viln, 'cause they're going to have to disconnect the grappling hook so the enemy doesn't know you came this way.
>>
No. 499336 ID: f2c20c

>>499315
An AP round to the big one's head, then the small one, would allow us to take their gear.

HE rounds here would be a bad idea. They're wearing the same armor as you, and that shit's STRONG against explosions.
>>
No. 499340 ID: d6ef5d

>>499336
Forgot we had AP sniper rounds, actually. Advantage: punches through armor. Disadvantage- a sucssful explosive shot (say, sniped carefully through an open spot in armor) will do a lot more damage to a fuzzball (especially one hopped up on mind control keeping them awake).

>>499332
The radio doesn't tell us how close reinforcements may be. If they've been laying down portable signal relays as they go, all that means is he's close to a relay, not necessarily the people on the other end.

>>499330
I am really torn on whether we should be running or fighting. Poor Polo never has enough intel.
>>
No. 499342 ID: b33427

Alright, I've change my mind again; We're going to attack them. Modify this plan >>499329 to take out either both of the giant's eyes, or both of his helmet's goggles, whichever you think you can pull off. He'll be blind, either by having no eyes or no night vision, making his guns useless. Then take a shot at the other's visor, even if you have to put the round through his head to do it.

>>499340
Yeah, we never seem to have enough intel. But if we take these two down, we might get their maps and their radios, which'll help greatly on that front. If we strip them down we might also get bio-armor, as well as regular armor. And if it doesn't fit, maybe Korli can fashion some of it into something to protect Viln's more vital spots, so he doesn't end up like Vern.
>>
No. 499349 ID: b33427

>>499342
Actually, forget trying to take their visors or eyes out. If you only manage to take their visors out, then once Viln throws down light so he can shoot, they'll be able to aim to fire back. They won't if you take their eyes out, but you're not high enough off the ground to get a good angle on the giant you could reliable take both his eyes out, and the short one you'd only be able to take out his visor.

Go back to taking their big weapons out. That way Viln and the rest can light up the situation and attack without risk of being hit with major weapons.
>>
No. 499352 ID: f2c20c

>>499342
>maps
OH GOD WE MUST SHOOT THEM

SHOOT THEM NOW
>>
No. 499354 ID: d6ef5d

>>499352
If they have maps to steal, they will be useful, yes. Less so if they're being guided remotely by controllers, or even their bugs, instead of carrying maps or mapping gear (remember, initially our mapping hardware was record only, we couldn't eve view the map on the move until we got it plugged into our helmet HUD). And if they have electronic maps, it might be dangerous interfacing them with our gear with the CAI is already hooked up to their stuff...

>>499349
...is shooting out their guns something that even works? Would take a precise AP shot, or an explosion, I'd think. I'd think the opening snipe would be better spent trying to lay one of them out.
>>
No. 499357 ID: f2c20c

Personally I think shooting their guns is a waste of perfectly good equipment that we could be using.
>>
No. 499360 ID: b33427

>>499354
Alright, fine. If Polo thinks she can pull off either blowing both of the giant's eyes away with an AP shot on the first try, or put an AP shot into the giant's helmet, followed by an explosive round into the hole the AP round made, then by all means that's what she should do. Once the giant is down, then Viln can throw down some light and shoot the other hunter.

And if they do have maps, they're likely going to be integrated into their helmet visors, so we should try not to shoot up the shorter hunter's helmet. We also don't have to interface it with our gear right away; We could have Lucera or Korli wear the helmet to use the map until we're far enough away to pull the helmet's power supply, then it's data storage, and dump it to a separate hand-held computer to sift out the map files before uploading them to Katzati's master map laptop.

>>499357
Yeah, you're right about needing their weapons. Should also strip all their armor off; Especially bio-armor. Marra might be able to wear bio-armor, once we've gotten away and have enough time for it to bond to her. Also nab their rations, and any other useful gear.
>>
No. 499361 ID: 57a559

I wonder if they're connected to a local wireless network the CAI can access at any time? (Like how we worked with Rokoa and Wendel on Iron Cove, sort of, with nodes and shit so Rokoa didn't walk off with us). I'd be extremely careful with any neumono with potential video feeds, Polo. They might have tech that allows wireless networking down in these tunnels. And that CAI's as much of a web tactical controller with comm netwroks as Four Stripes is with the empathy relays. You have two different head tactical leaders out here to look out for.
>>
No. 499438 ID: c4e5c2
File 136298370159.png - (58.92KB , 815x700 , 208.png )
499438

Pitch black was a bad term. I simply meant without active lighting that made things reasonably visible to the naked eye.

I wait for them to turn their focus away so that I can pop out and get at least one good shot off. I would have liked to tell my crew this, but if I go back to warn them, the situation can change too much too fast, so they will have to use their judgement. Unfortunately the only way I can get a clean shot on a visor or goggles is by entering directly in front of them, so I will settle on an explosive round while one is at the side. Specifically, when the giant turns its head. And while the explosion is more flashy than intense, it absolutely has to be enough to break the goggles and severely disorient, if not completely disable, even a neumono horror experiment. The chance happens, I fire, it works, although the scream that comes out of a mangled throat and comparatively worse face is far from pleasant.

But I immediately sense Four Stripes take over. The other hunter half dives, half is knocked down in a prone position for cover. It knows where the shot came from and immediately fires upon me. So quickly that I can't reliably fire even just a second shot with confidence, and with the limitation of ammo, I don't risk it in the hope of getting lucky. Four Stripes is also using the empathy and knowledge of the healthy hunter to direct the actions of the giant, who while is blinded, was not disabled. The giant has bugs and no one is surprised. It is trying to recover from the blast and grab one of its weapons it dropped. Its plan is to shoot in my general direction using the other hunter's vision as a beacon using the explosive weapon. While he tries to get what might be a hand mortar, the hunter fires bursts to try to keep me from getting another shot off easily.

I hear my teammates coming. They are 15 to 25 seconds away at a sprinting pace, equipped with loose fitting clothes and generic firearms. No grenades unless one of them had them shoved in their pockets away from my inventory check.
>>
No. 499439 ID: f2c20c

>>499438
Wait until they have to reload, then pop out and take a shot to disable the other one.
>>
No. 499442 ID: 6630b7

change your position a bit, stick your hand out of cover and fire back towards the little one hoping it ducks and covers so you can get out and shoot them properly.
>>
No. 499446 ID: d6ef5d

Hmm. The toughest part of ending this fight is going to be four stripes and the bugs forcing their hosts to keep going. Ideally, we could just main them and leave them for the hive to recover, but we're going to have a hard time getting them to stop fighting back without lethally wounding them, I think.

>What do?
You need to stop the big one from hitting you and your allies with the mortar. The easiest way to do this is is to face blast the smaller hunter as well- then four stripes loses visual targeting completely and your group can finishes disabling them more safely. It'd be nice if you could just directly disable the big one, but you likely can't do that in one shot, or the time you have, with the weapon you have,
>>
No. 499448 ID: de32da

How close is the giant to the little one? Are they close to enough to make taking out the giant's leg and causing it to fall on the Hunter to disrupt his firing?

If not, do you suspect that one of the giant's weapons has explosive ammunition, and would shooting said weapon cause it to explode glorious?

>>499439

That's operating under the assumption that they don't have backup, and that they don't have grenades.
>>
No. 499449 ID: 8b9215

Run like a motherfucker. You got a damn good hit in on them.
>>
No. 499453 ID: d6ef5d

>>499439
We don't have time to wait for the little one to burn through a whole clip of unknown size. We're trying to get out before reinforcements show, and the big one is going to try and hit us with explosives.

>>499449
Again, our goal is to punch through. Running just buys them time to recover and shoot at us.
>>
No. 499458 ID: 735f4f

We are not going to save anyone with non lethal methods. We need to aim to kill here. This is not a temporary taken over hive.
>>
No. 499461 ID: d6ef5d

>>499458
I think the line we have to walk is we should not be held back by fear of killing hunters while trying to defend ourself (and it's entirely possible we already did so busting through the cave entrance blockade) but at the same time we aren't out to kill them. If we have the choice after the shooting stops to leave these guys an injured wreck for the other hunters to recover or to finish them, we leave them.

>This is not a temporary taken over hive.
That's only true if we fail. The hunter hive will only be taken over as long as the salikai are their to pull their string. They're mind controlled victims, not willing defectors.
>>
No. 499470 ID: b33427

If you think the jammer would disrupt Four Stripes' control over these two, and that your group could get it up here fast enough to matter, then you've gotta let them know to turn it up to max range. Take a deep breath, pop your helmet open, and yell back to them "max jammer now!" Otherwise, if you think they'll get the jammer up here before you can do all that, then just stay quiet.

There's a hole up the cave hall where the tunnel forks, as shown here >>499315. Is it out of the hunter's field of vision, and can you scale the wall up to it before the giant gets its hand on that weapon? If yes to both, do it. Get into the hole and line up a shot on the hunter's visor to take it out.

Otherwise, move back across the tunnel, and take aim at a position just in front and to your left of the prone hunter. If the jammer field hasn't enveloped them yet by the time the giant almost has its hands on that explosive whatever, then lean over just enough to fire an explosive round into the ground near to the hunter's gun. The blast will temporarily blind him and maybe damage his visor, and will throw his aim off if it doesn't knock the gun right out of his hand. That's when you step out fully, and line up an AP shot on his visor.
>>
No. 499475 ID: c6ec33

Polo, what do you think will happen if you isolate the hunters in the jammer field? Will it bring them back to 'normal', or is it likely their bots will just take over and have them keep fighting?

In any case, you need to be out of the way of that mortar. If you can't get a good explosive shot on the small one or the big one's mortar itself, GTFO ASAP and try to lure them into a jammer trap. Even if it doesn't fully disable them, it will limit their effectiveness and probably blind the big one.
>>
No. 499476 ID: de32da

>>499470
>>499475

Considering that Rokaan is still a liability, even with the Jammer on, I don't think the jammer will do anything, we can use it on their disabled bodies, the little one is still able to fucking see and the jammer is a very, very important piece of equipment for us, and very, very fragile.
>>
No. 499480 ID: c6ec33

>>499476
Rokann only freaks out during attempts to talk about or remove her bugs. The jammer most likely blocks 4-stripe's direct control, leaving them with just the 'default programming' provided by the bugs already inside them.
>>
No. 499481 ID: b33427

>>499476
The jammer does have some range to it, you know. Just as long as whoever has it stays back around the corner from the fight, or they leave it there before joining the fray, it'll be safe.

And we don't know if removing Four Stripe's direct control will break the giant's direction or not, or if it'll just hamper it. But it is something we should at least try.
>>
No. 499496 ID: d6ef5d

>jammer?
Jammers do not interfere with bugs controlling people, or four stripes controlling people via bugs. The bugs have direct access that bypasses empathy, and the bugs themselves are connected to their own communication network (which includes four stripes) that is independent of normal empathy.

We know this to be true because the hunters, while being puppeted by four stripes, were able to set up ambushes for us from under their own jammers.

All our jammer will do is (a) prevent the hunters from knowing what our allies are thinking (b) prevent the hunters from being able to use empathy to aim at our allies (c) cut off Polo's ability to sense what the hunters (and four stripes controlling them) are thinking / doing once the jammer gets within her range.

...and for heaven's sake, we don't have time to fool around. We're got an enemy reaching for a gun that sprays explosions, and our unarmored allies coming up from behind!
>>
No. 499510 ID: 76b151

>>499496
Actually that is not true. The network they use is emphatic in nature. You have to remember what Four Stripes is. He is a predator that uses the link to overwhelm a neuminos natural link and control him or her that way. That is why jammers are effective when faced with a predator.
>>
No. 499512 ID: d6ef5d

>>499510
Normally four stripes uses broadcast empathy to control neumono. That's why the empathic relay allows him to compromise people.

But that's not how the bugs work!

The bugs have direct access, that circumvents broadcast empathy- they hijack the neural network or empathic setup with direct physical access (proof- bugs control the enemy even when they hide from us under jammers). The bugs also have their own communication network of some kind (when Rokann goes really quiet, it's because her bugs are trying to talk to other bugs. Like what happened right before the helicopter ambush. Polo can tell the bugs are doing something- but it's not empathy. She can't hear it). Four stripes is remotely conducting the hunter hivers via the bugs (he's probably hooked up with cyborg implants at this point), not via an empathic relay. We can't expect a jammer to stop them.
>>
No. 499513 ID: 76b151

>>499512
The relays are still emphatic in nature. The bugs are relying on Four Stripes to direct them for more complicated matters. And that in itself is emphatic. Without four stripes directing the bugs they go to default like it was mentioned before.
>>
No. 499516 ID: d6ef5d

>>499513
Yes, without four stripes, the bugs control of the hunters would be limited to whatever the bug AI could manage, yes.

Yes, the control is empathic in nature.

But no, the bugs aren't talking with one another on the neumono empathy "frequency". Polo can't hear the bugs- but she can sense their effect on the neumono they control, and four stripes behind them.

If the bugs don't talk on the empathic frequency, it stands to reason that an empatic jammer won't stop them from talking. (And we have reasonable evidence it does not). All four stripes would need would be to have bugs in him so he could reach out and control directly through the bug-network. Then jammers wouldn't interrupt his control of the hunters.

We don't have time to wait around trying to cut them off from four stripes when there's a very simple way the salikai could have made that not work. The jammer will either help or do nothing (as I expect) when our allies arrive. In the mean time, Polo should be continue trying to shut down or disable the enemy.
>>
No. 499517 ID: 76b151

>>499516
I don't see why you think the bugs talk to one another. They have always relied on an outside source to coordinate and control them.
>>
No. 499522 ID: d6ef5d

>I don't see why you think the bugs talk to one another.
Well, Polo does, for one. Just a few updates ago, she noted Rokann went quiet and wondered if her bugs were trying to contact the others again. They are a networked AI of some kind- wireless capacity only makes sense. And the mark I love-bugs were controlled wirelessly by one central AI transmitter, too. Even if they upgraded to a decentralized AI with a remote predator overseer, it seems silly to remove that capacity in an upgraded model.

It's also how Rokann knew about the helicopter ambush in advance. She got all quiet as her bugs went into overdrive conferring with the others waiting to hit us. Then once her bugs finished and she realized what was going on, she started panicking and wanting us to get out of there- before we were ambushed and/or we were cut off from the caves (but we continued on anyways).
>>
No. 499528 ID: b33427

>>499522
Alright, so the bugs can act as miniature empathic relays that connect either through a mesh network with other nearby bugs, by connection with a big empathic relay, or, likely, through a regular radio relay. That means that bringing the jammer up might only disrupt the direct empathic link between the giant and the small hunter, which wouldn't do much to help us. They might even be able to maintain their empathic link through the bug's empathic relay ability. Either way, Four Stripes is still pulling the strings and we don't have a way to disrupt that. Maybe if we found a portable radio jammer, but that's an objective for later.

Considering this, Polo shouldn't call for the jammer range to be increased. In fact, she should call for it to be decreased to just around the group, so she has longer to sense the two enemies, but she probably doesn't have time for that so should just keep quiet.

Plan here should be to focus on either taking out the small hunter's visor, or his eyes, so he's blind either way. Explosive round into the ground as close to in front of him as possible, then either an AP round into his visor or another explosive round into his face, depending on whether Polo can aim that well, will do.

In the future, we can also use Rokann's bugs to detect if there are bugged neumono around that are under an empathic jammer, or if there's a empathic or radio relay nearby. Any time she goes quiet it'll indicate one of those things. So, definitely put someone on Rokann-watch duty from now on.

We might even be able to get an idea of what the bugs are doing if Polo brings Rokann out of the jammer field with her. So, Polo would go out first, sense if any non-jammed neumono are around, then bring Rokann out just enough to sense her.

Also, Rokann might not have been made to eat her gag by the bugs; She might have done so in a panicked state while trying to warn us and inhaled a load of the hallucinogenic gas before she had a chance.
>>
No. 499535 ID: b33427

>>499528
We're also going to have to blindfold Rokann's eyes and plug her ears from now on as well, so her bugs can't relay anything back about where she is or what the group is saying.

Also, Polo wouldn't have to take Rokann out of the jamming field to get an empathic read on her; She'd only need another in the group to put their hand on Rokann to form that small link like she had with Katzati earlier. In fact, we may want someone to hold on to Rokann like that all the time, both to comfort her, and to know right away if the bugs connect. The risk there is that the bugs might try to migrate into whoever is holding Rokann, so somebody else should watch them with the x-ray scanner.
>>
No. 499549 ID: c4e5c2
File 136303417271.png - (65.21KB , 700x700 , 209.png )
499549

I am not certain how, precisely, the bugs work. I am confident it uses both a combination of conventional radio communication and neumono empathy to communicate, but how these intertwine and what method is needed to do what, I don't know much of. I will think on possibilities later when I am not in the middle of combat.

What I do know, right now, is that the giant is going for the explosive, and I am operating in split seconds that won't allow me to time to yell multiple word tactical orders to my teammates effectively. Even if whatever gave the giant its order is interrupted, the giant did receive the order, and is unlikely to stop even if the bug's method of communication is removed. It is recovering quick, so I chance popping out anyway to fire an explosive round on the hunter. My aim is as good as ever, although I take a couple of stinging hits. Nothing crucial, but it isn't doing my armor any favors and I will be bruised for awhile. I can't say the same for the hunter, who is in far worse shape.

Sure enough, the giant doesn't stop, but it is no longer able to use the hunter's sight to fire at me with any accuracy. While I fired, it successfully grabbed its weapon, and is still going to try to shoot based on my last known location. It is following one of Rokoa's favorite principles. If it's explosive enough, you don't need good aim. I might be able to get a good shot off to ruin the weapon beforehand, or I might not and wish I took the extra split second to run far away.
>>
No. 499555 ID: 001618

well if it was just you I would say run like hell but your team is coming around the coner and could be hit in the cross fire so i say you put a round down the barrel of the gaint's gun, I mean you already frickin did it that one time on an explosive shotgun I think you can put a round down the barral of that cannon
>>
No. 499556 ID: a5c529

Face it girl, you like Rokoa! :3 embrace it! She is a wonderful person!
>>
No. 499557 ID: 735f4f

Any high explosives in this cave will funnel down the passages a ways. So unless you can get at least 5-10 feet away from the impact point before it can shoot you might be better off taking the shot.
>>
No. 499562 ID: ff6171

run away from your hiding spot and jump towards the screen as the explosion expands behind you.
>>
No. 499564 ID: eaf2f5

That thing must have a minimum prime distance, charge the giant neumono and get as close as possible.
>>
No. 499567 ID: b33427

You're close enough that even if you did hit right down the barrel of that thing, if it explodes you're going to catch the brunt of it in the face, likely destroying your visor and taking your ears off. If you run back towards the group, it'll catch you in your sturdier back armor, but you'll still take damage. However, if you run towards the giant, around the corner, the blast will be partially blocked by the rock; You might even be able to get behind the giant as well before the shot explodes. The rest of the group are far enough away, and around tunnel curves, that they likely won't take the brunt of the blast.

So charge forward, stay under where the giant is aiming, and get behind that rock before he fires.

However, if you don't think you can make it in time, then shoot an AP round up the barrel of that launcher, then try to shield your face from the possible explosion. If you're real lucky, it'll break it so it doesn't fire, and nothing explodes. At worst, it blows up and takes out the giant, the small hunter, and seriously damages you, your armor, and your rifle.
>>
No. 499568 ID: d6ef5d

So the choice is to blow the gun or dive for cover?

If you were alone, I'd play it safe and dive. But you got allies coming up behind you who could be rushing right into the blast while you cover.

Take her out. On the move, if at all possible- so you avoid the last known firing tactics, and so you can roll out of the way of the explosion. (If you're only lightly injured, it's worth it. Viln could carry you. It's only not worth it if you wreck your gear or seriously injure yourself).
>>
No. 499574 ID: b33427

>>499567
Actually, forget trying to fire down the barrel of that thing if you can't get around the corner before it goes off. The risk of it exploding and damaging your visor, rifle, all your front armor, and you, is too great. You just can't risk losing your rifle or visor.

Instead, turn back towards the group and sprint as fast as you can. As soon as you hear the launcher fire, scrunch up into as tight a ball as you can, shielding your rifle. The blast will catch your less vital back and tail armor instead of your front armor and visor. The sight of you running away might also make the rest of the group stop running towards the intersection if they see you running away.

Oh, and whatever action you do do, shout "BOMB!" at the top of your lungs to try and get the rest of the group to stop running towards the intersection. The giant and the hunter are deafened by now, so it doesn't matter if you yell that.
>>
No. 499577 ID: c4e5c2
File 136304017321.png - (90.42KB , 700x700 , 210.png )
499577

I won't be firing down the barrel of the gun, the last time I did that, the person aiming at me actually was, in fact, aiming at me to allow this. This one's aim is too off.

"BOMB!" I yell to my teammates, who may get a punch of shock should the explosion be particularly strong. I only pause to yell that before rushing forward, quiet as I can manage, to get behind the giant as it fires.

I am not familiar with the weapon, as it makes an odd, lumiscent glow for a second as he pulls the trigger and holds it down for a second. It launches some kind of gel. As soon as its out, I fire again, knocking her forward. The gel explodes on contact, flinging the giant, her weapon, and the fire of my own explosion backwards. I am losing my balance as well.

The ceiling shakes. It does not sound good, but I think the cave is still stable enough. Another explosion or two might cause a cave in.
>>
No. 499579 ID: 8b9215

run
>>
No. 499580 ID: d6ef5d

Right. Dodge the falling gaint, regain your balance. Switch to AP rounds, and if the enemy is still capable of putting up a fight, shoot them (cripple them- like the zombies last time). Mop up shouldn't take long- your allies are in range now and armed, and the enemy is blind and on fire.

Be careful, the smaller one might be up by now.

Then everyone grab anything useful the enemy dropped, leave the injured hunter hivers for their hive to recover, and get out of here before there's a cave in or reinforcements arrive.
>>
No. 499584 ID: f2c20c

>>499577
A cave in would be to our advantage. It would cut off pursuit. However, it might also suffocate these two, and we don't want to do that! They are from the Hunter tribe, right?

Snatch any dropped supplies and toss them back towards your allies. See if you can switch to normal or AP rounds to use disabling shots on our two enemies and then fully loot them. It would be great to have more armor, even if it's got holes in it.
>>
No. 499591 ID: b33427

Don't worry about the gel launcher hitting the ground and going off; If had a hair trigger or was that unstable, it would have gone off from the force of the explosion.

Make sure that these two are disarmed, then yell back "MOVE UP" to the rest of the group. Check that neither of them are trying to set off a suicide bomb, or pulling all the pins on their grenades, or something like that. If the giant feels like it's going to flee, put an AP round through its knee. If the smaller hunter tries to flee, tackle him to the ground.

Get Viln to pin the giant down while Katzati and Marra strip its armor off. Everyone else pin down the hunter to strip him. You're looking to snag bio-armor from them, as well as the hunter's armor, and maybe the giant's if parts of its armor could be refashioned into partial protection for Viln and the others. If there's not enough time to strip them here, have Viln grab the hunter and carry him so he can be stripped on the move.

Before leaving them, break their elbows and knees. That'll put them out of the fight for a day or two, at least.

Gonna need an ammo check after this action. Think you've already used up at least half of your explosive rounds by now.
>>
No. 499597 ID: ff6171

there is no way nothing heard that. reinforcements will be coming in soon. unless you can multi-headshot the hunter right here and now, you have to flee.
>>
No. 499598 ID: d6ef5d

>>499591
We don't have time to salvage armor, or to scrape bio-armor off these guys, even if they have it. Grabbing loose guns and supplies, sure.
>>
No. 499602 ID: b33427

>>499597
>>499598
Yeah, you're right. Any forces these two were waiting for to get into position are going to be rushing down here now. There's going to be no time to loot more than the . However, Viln could still snatch up the smaller hunter, then hold him still up where Korli could work to remove his armor while they're on the move. Viln can just drop him if there's any reason he needs his hands free before Korli finishes. We kinda also want to see if there's anything we could salvage from his helmet, like the data store from a mapping unit.

Also, if the giant is fleeing, don't bother trying to stop it; That's just a waste of ammo at this point. Only fire on it if it's still a hazard, and Viln isn't there to pummel and subdue it.

Oh, and bio-armor can be rather easily cut off, just in case peeling it off the hunter is taking too long. It'll just take a bit to mend once it's on a new host.
>>
No. 499605 ID: f2c20c

>>499602
Well, if we're pressed for time, we could move these guys then create a cavein at range. Then we'd have time to strip these two, and restrain them solidly enough that they have no hope of getting free before help arrives.
>>
No. 499614 ID: b33427

>>499605
We'd only really want to even bother thinking about that if the giant has bio-armor on, and it's not some high percentage one, since his regular armor would take a bit of work to fashion into something that'd provide even partial protection for Viln or anyone in the rest of the group. We can take everything else, including the hunter, and deal with it while on the move.
>>
No. 499615 ID: de32da

Isn't Bio-armor structured around a specific species' nervous system?

The only ones among us that could even USE the giant's bioarmor, if it even has any, would be Katz and Marra, and that's assuming it would even fit them, and they are strong enough to wear it.
>>
No. 499616 ID: d6ef5d

...dragging along more people full of bugs who would only slow us down, and might successfully hurt someone in our party does not seem worth being able to strip them down for whatever armor we didn't wreck and possible bioarmor.

C'mon guys. The giant is huge, and napalmed. If there's bioarmor there, we aren't grabbing it.
>>
No. 499622 ID: b33427

>>499615
>>499616
Alright, forget the giant. While his bio-armor could be cut down to fit Marra, it'd take too long to regenerate from the cutting, and probably drain Marra more than we'd like to repair itself. Getting the small hunter's bio-armor would still be valid, since it can stretch to fit over Marra.
>>
No. 499625 ID: 8b9215

Switch to standard rounds and put one or two into it to see how much damage it does. Don't get caught if it tries to grab you.
>>
No. 499637 ID: c4e5c2
File 136305966438.png - (21.49KB , 700x700 , 211.png )
499637

Bio armor is more of a one size fits all type of thing, but it still takes some time to peel off, not to mention the difficulty in doing so now that the armor has likely been bent in many places and difficult to remove.

"Move up!" I yell back down, quieter this time. I make sure that the neumono are no longer threats. The small one wakes up again, but its arms are broken and it is unable to stand. The giant is moving more than it should, but it is blind and deaf, and moving slowly. Their weapons are knocked away, and they can't find them. I have little enough ammo as is, I don't want to waste more.

"We've got to move! Blind Rokann and plug her ears, don't let the bugs hear anything!"

Katzati frantically knocks on her head and points at the neumono without trying to directly look at it. I think she wants their headgear for mapping. I make head being exploded gestures. I doubt that any software the helmeta may have had wouldn't be destroyed. The shock must have hit me harder than I thought if I started thinking I had to gesture too.

"It's probably destroyed. Look at them."

So we just start to grab the weapons, but now I have to decide whether to try to punch through the way we came before reinforcements hopefully come, back to the hole, and whether or not to cause a cave in at some point.
>>
No. 499640 ID: f2c20c

Yeah that's... part of why I wanted to use AP ammo here. Sheesh, guys. Explosions are not for every fight. All we got from this was their guns, because of that.

Without map data we're still kinda FUCKED. At least if we keep moving we're not likely to run into heavy concentrations of them. In fact, if we rush forwards and take out that mutant we might be able to find another armored hunter and steal its map data.

So let's do that. Use the new weapons to arm your team and rush to where the mutant and light was, and THIS time let's take down someone cleanly!
>>
No. 499642 ID: d6ef5d

All right. Polo takes out an enemy patrol, all by her lonesome.

>Bio armor is more of a one size fits all type of thing
Honestly, still wondering how something that fit Rokoa ever fit on you. That's some seriously adaptive stuff.

>What do?
Alright, we have two basic plans of action now- double back and hopefully slip their cordon before the reinforcements arrive, or run down the rabbit hole.

In either case, a cave in could help. If we go down the hole- the cave in will slow pursuit. If we double back, the enemy may assume that's why we made the cave in, and waste time trying to get through it to us (so it serves as a decoy).

The disadvantage of a cave is is we don't know how big it might be (we could trap ourselves, or kill or injure our own), we'd have to move the hunters first, and it would prevent us from changing our mind (we could be trapped on one side in a bad situation).

On the whole, I prefer trying to slip the cordon and evading reinforcements to running down the hole. The hole puts us well below the gas line (and we face the prospect of having to sleep in the stuff) and takes us into the unknown without a means of retreat. I'd also prefer to forgo risking causing a cave in on purpose.
>>
No. 499644 ID: d6ef5d

>>499640
The thing is, all an AP round would do is put a hole in them. That's not enough to stop a tough neumono. Especially one with a predator and bugs in his or her head forcing them to keep going, and calmly controlling them without care for the pain.

On explosive wrecked the little guy. It blinded him, preventing the other one from using his sight to target, and broke his arms, preventing him from shooting. One AP round would have cost him an eye, leaving him able to shoot, and the biggun able to target. Two well placed explosions disabled the giant. Two AP shots would have barely pissed her off.

So yes, it cost us some loot, but it more than made up for it in efficiency of time and ammunition. Taking them down with non-explosive fire would have taken a lot longer, and our group would have been injured doing so. Time and blood are not quantities we can spare, right now. Even for intel.
>>
No. 499648 ID: b33427

The more I think about it, the more I think that you should go take down that giant mutant miklik. It's guarding something important. Something like one of the salikai's trunk radio relays. That'd explain why Rokann's bugs could connect to Four Stripes as soon as you got into this relatively deep area. If you took out the trunk relay, it'd cut Four Stripes off from this area, and possibly areas further up. You might even be able to use it to tap their communications or extract a map copy before you destroyed it.

But before you do, ask Viln to smell which direction the gas is strongest, to determine if the gas generator is back there or not. Wouldn't want to fight that miklik, only to find out it's just one of those.

Is it absolutely certain that no solid-state memory card could have survived intact in one of the helmet fragments? They'd have to be built to be really quite shock resistant, after all, and would survive a surge of heat, as long as it didn't last long. Maybe before leaving turn on all the lights you have and have everyone do a once over of the area for any helmet fragments that have electronics and take them along to examine later.

How seriously was Marra's shoulder injured, and how soon will she recover? Can she use that hunter's gun effectively?

Polo, get everyone but Viln to bunch up for a moment and turn the jammers' range down so you can sense if any un-jammed neumono are nearby, and if so in which direction.

Before leaving the defeated hunters, try putting your hand on one of them to sense if Four Stripes can still control them well while they're inside a jamming field.
>>
No. 499650 ID: d6ef5d

...why the sudden interest in killing the miklik? Our aim is to get away and leave them fruitlessly searching the wrong area for us, not to fight our way out and leave a trail of bodies to follow.

I mean, sure, if he's in our way, we can shoot him. If we find the gas generators, we'll blow them. But if the miklik was guarding them, we'd have been close enough for us to hear them, I'd think. (Or for Viln to notice the higher concentration of bad air).
>>
No. 499651 ID: 450660

>>499637

Not sure what to say for your next move aside from "get the fuck out of there". We should consider them as compromised like the zombies from before, but I don't know how likely it will be to recover them without either taking out Four Stripes or findings some kind of magical panacea.

As for the cool goo-bomb? I think it's something to the spirit of napalm or similar: a viscous, highly sticky material that catalyzes with <atmosphere> in an explosive manner. That or some kind of stable, liquid explosive compound that requires a starter that is embedded in the round. Who knows. Cool either way and may be handy to keep around.

Roast Salikai, anyone?
>>
No. 499652 ID: b33427

>>499650
It's 'cause the miklik might not be guarding gas generators, but something bigger like a major radio or empathic relay from the salikai's base up to the higher levels. Take that out and Four Stripes' control over the bugged neumono in this area, and possibly the areas above, will be severed. It'd also break the salikai's communications to their forces around here as well. That'd severely hamper them.

However, we shouldn't go in without checking first. Polo should sprint up there, with Viln in tow, and shove her knife out there to completely check the area, even if it catches the attention of the miklik. If it's not the gas generator, or more than the gas generator, then take down the miklik and any other guards that are there. If it's just the gas generator, or not anything that looks like communications equipment, then do a fighting retreat and get out of the area, back to the river.
>>
No. 499656 ID: b33427

>>499648
>>499652
Okay, actually, forget going for the miklik. If it isn't want I hope it is, then we're screwed, and we don't have the time to check if it is. We'll have other chances in the future to search out for such things. And even if it was a major relay, taking it out wouldn't stop the enemy from advancing on their last orders, and knowing where we are.

As long as Rokann is in this area, they'll know we're here 'cause of her bugs. We have to get her away from here and out of range of any relays, otherwise you'll never be able to evade the enemy.

Head back towards the river and punch through there; You know the terrain there, so you're not working at a disadvantage on that front. Put yourself on point, outside of the jammer so you can sense any un-jammed neumono coming. Keep Viln behind and within sight of you, armed with both the gel launcher and a heavy MG. If you encounter forces too strong to take out by yourself or with the help of Viln's MG, use the gel launcher on them. Only use the gel launcher to cause a cave-in if there's just too many enemies coming, and there's only one way in. Otherwise, evade.
>>
No. 499673 ID: c4e5c2
File 136308212155.png - (44.51KB , 700x700 , 212.png )
499673

"How is your shoulder, Marra?"
She gives a thumbs up, with the shot shoulder for reinforcement.

I look at the helmets of the hunter and giant while they blindly move. They are bent, broken and charred, but it's possible that whatever computer chips make up its computer systems were lucky and well protected and still have the data. I have Marra help me yank them off of their heads, making sure Viln and Katzati are nearby in case they put up a fight. They don't. We put the helmets in the crew's backpacks. Marra keeps the gel launcher, Katzati holds onto the giant's machine gun. They are far too large for me to wield effectively.

I put my hand on one of the hunters that gets held down by Viln. I sense Four Stripes. There must be a relay of some kind nearby, but as usual, it is likely far too tiny and well hidden to be worth looking for.

"Everyone stick close and turn the jammer range down, I'll be leading ahead by around 10 meters to sense other neumono. Viln, stick between me and the crew."

We head back the way we originally came to try to push back out. I don't wish to waste time with the miklik, unless it charges us.

Once we reach the intersection, I sense 3 neumono coming quickly from, once again, the northeast tunnel around a bend. Or rather, I sense three neumono being conducted by Four Stripes. He seems agitated. I imagine reinforcements will be trickling in rather than in one big wave.

We can pass onward to the southwest without their notice, and if so, we might not have to fight them at all. Unless they somehow know where we are trying to go and don't go to the disabled neumono first, or if we have to retreat back to the downward hole again, we would probably run into them. These are risks, and there is merit in trying to neutralize them here instead of taking a chance, however small, of getting surrounded with them at our rear later.
>>
No. 499674 ID: f2c20c

>>499673
I really want to take them out with their helmets mostly-intact. Get Viln in a good ambush position behind you which lets you provide some covering fire, or something. If the others can also contribute while staying in the jammer, they should. Open fire with AP rounds as soon as they're within the field of fire. He should use his HMG, not the explosive launcher, unless you feel like ruining more valuable gear and possibly triggering an avalanche.

I think we've discovered a weakness in the bugs' mind control. They don't make very good tactical decisions on the fly! Or maybe Four Stripes is just bad at it.
>>
No. 499675 ID: 8b9215

Gel launcher, Giant's MG, Viln's MG, Rifle HE rounds, and whatever else we have. Set up a firing squad.

Four Stripes is going to be even more agitated soon.
>>
No. 499676 ID: 04b86a

>>499673
If it weren't for the fact that it'd reveal our location and use up a perfectly good surprise that we could save for when we can actually see Four Stripe's face, I'd suggest we release our silence and just focus on Four Stripes for a few moments to see how much more agitated we can make him.

Ah, well, unless we suddenly feel like being crazy reckless I say we ambush the oncoming neumono and try to get an undamaged helmet. Maybe we can make the reveal after we've taken out this group?
>>
No. 499681 ID: f2c20c

I just had two great ideas.

One. Can we use a jammer to interrupt Four Stripes' control? Have a jammer turned up right when the action starts to encompass the incoming Hunters. Even if it gives us a fraction of a second of distraction, it would be a significant advantage. Imagine it as if we interrupt their train of thought in the middle of battle, so they forget that they're fighting for a second.

Two. Can we alter one of the jammers to scramble the bugs? Stands to reason that if the bugs make neumono more vulnerable to the Four Stripes relay, we can make a countermeasure. This would allow us to both quickly get Rokann back in operation AND recruit infected Hunters.
>>
No. 499688 ID: d6ef5d

>Can we use a jammer to interrupt Four Stripes' control?
No. We just tested this. The whole group, jammer included, was there with the two downed hunters. But Polo was still able to sense four stripes when she touched one of them. (Apparently using physical contact to bypass jamming is a thing now?).

>Can we alter one of the jammers to scramble the bugs?
Long term? Possibly. The bugs do have a communication network of some kind- potentially it could be jammed. Short term, no- that would take time and experimentation for Korli to work out (possibly longer than the time it would take to debug Rokann, and with no guarantee of working). And even if if we got it working it wouldn't change the fact that the bugs still have direct hardware access to their hosts- they'd probably still be in control.

>More hunters
Blargh, I'd prefer just to get the heck out of here and not risk anyone in our party getting injured and slowing us down, but if everyone seems gung-ho on hitting them (mapping data, making sure we aren't pursued) let's do this right, and set up a proper, coordinated ambush (I assume we have time for that?).

Polo, don't worry about explosive ammo and keeping precious helmets intact. There's three of them- you're not going to shoot all three of them in the face (some will go down to other fire). Taking down the enemy quickly and expediently (no matter which ammo is right for the job) is the order of the day.
>>
No. 499692 ID: fcbc5f

go down the path you said they might not follow you maybe.
>>
No. 499699 ID: 5bf190

I think they have a limit on what they can do. Being planted with bugs lets them leave standing orders, and they can relay orders to the bugs with radio, but the bugs have only so much memory, so they can only be pre-set with a relatively modest list of ready commands. For anything with any complexity, they need to use Four Stripes, and there's a limit to what he can manage at once.

That's still a lot, but at least we're not having to deal with an unlimited supply of perfect puppets. And if you get your enemies into a jammer, they should become predictable. So long as you live long enough to find out what "predictable" is.
>>
No. 499701 ID: d6ef5d

>>499699
The jammer. Does not. Block four stripes.

We just tested this.
>I put my hand on one of the hunters that gets held down by Viln. I sense Four Stripes.

He can still control the hunters through the bugs, even while the hunters are within the radius of a jammer. Jamming the neumono-wireless doesn't stop him from abusing his direct line.

...and even if they were cut off from him? The bugs don't need to do anything that complex- they just need to convince the hunters they're looking at an enemy (which is what Rokann described happening to her) and let the hunter's own training and experience fighting come into play.

>ambush
So wait. Polo's Polo, Marra's a soldier, Rokann is out of commission, Viln has a big gun but no experience with it, Korli, Katzati and Kork are basically civilians. Wasn't sure if Lucera was civilian or military inspector, but he at least seems competent with a weapon.

Half of our available people aren't trained for this. If we do this, we need to be careful and set it up right, or we're going to hurt ourselves more than removing some pursuit or gaining maps will help.
>>
No. 499729 ID: 0e95bf

>>499701

This depends on how near Viln and Katzati were.

>>499673

POLO, can you confirm you were within Jammer range while touching the compromised neumono? If so, then the bugs themselves may be acting as a relay system, and everything that could entail.
>>
No. 499733 ID: 78c6ea

What was Marra shot with? If I recall, ballistic projectiles are a viable bug delivery method.
>>
No. 499792 ID: d6ef5d

>>499733
...that's enough to merit an x-rayed glance her way, although it's unlikely the Salikai have been able to equip the hunters with infestation round launchers or anything yet- presumably they're using their own gear.

>>499791
You do know you can delete posts if you want to completely change your game plan?

...and that sounds needlessly complicated, splits us up unnecessarily, plans on attacking a drone that could be anywhere right now (all we know is it's not within earshot) and nothing like a simple ambush. Which involved hiding behind cover, letting the enemy come to you, and then shooting them when they don't expect it. Done right and with a little care (we've got several military peeps here, they gotta know how to set an ambush) that should do the job fine.
>>
No. 499795 ID: b33427

>>499792
Alright, fine! You're right! My plans are too fuckin' complicated and make too many damn assumptions. I'm throwin' them out. We're going with a simple ambush here, for real.

Polo, Viln, and Marra on the corner. Viln and Marra with big MGs, Polo with her rifle as usual. Polo watches 'round the corner with her knife. As soon as the enemy rounds the bend she pegs the most dangerous target in the head with an explosive round. At the same time Marra and Viln lean out and open up full-auto with the big MGs. Shoot until enemy is incapacitated. There. Simple.

What's the range on the x-ray goggles? Could Marra wear them to target these enemies in the dark?

>>499733
They didn't appear to have anything that could launch a mind-bug, but if the shot wasn't through and through, check with the x-ray. It could also be a tracker round, if it's too small to be a bug.
>>
No. 499797 ID: f2c20c

>the jammer didn't block Four Stripes
Wait, how is that possible? He shouldn't be able to connect at all without an empathic link, unless the bugs are hijacking it and transmitting/receiving over a different method like radio? In that case, why is Rokann not being taken over by Four Stripes?
>>
No. 499798 ID: b33427

>>499797
The bugs are acting like an empathic relay, which, from what we've seen, converts neumono empathic signals into a form that can be transmitted electronically, including by radio, and converted back to empathic signals. Since the bugs are in direct contact with their neumono hosts, the empathic link isn't blocked by the jammers, similar to when Katzati and Polo could form a weak link while they were in a jamming field just by Katz putting her hand on Polo's head. So all Four Stripes needs to take control is for the bugs to get within range of a salikai radio relay.

Rokann probably is or was taken over by Four Stripes. Why he made her only eat her gag and breathe in the hallucinogenic gas is a mystery. Maybe the gas screwed up the bugs control over here? Who knows.
>>
No. 499799 ID: d6ef5d

Four Stipes might just be limiting himself to personally controlling people in a position to do something he sees as useful. It could be he doesn't care to micro-manage trying to get our mostly immobile prisoner messing us up, preferring to manage the people shooting at us instead (from a personality perspective, aggression seems much more his style than subtlety, or manipulation. I could see trying to get at us from Rokann's position being frustrating for him).

It could also be our debugging is a problem for him. Maybe there needs to be a certain number of bugs in a person to process the bandwidth of Four Stripes assuming direct control, and Rokann is now below that threshold?
>>
No. 500168 ID: c4e5c2
File 136337704249.png - (29.20KB , 700x700 , 213.png )
500168

When I touched the hunters to get a feel for them, I was within the jammer. I am thinking that Four Stripes is somehow able to control the neumono's empathy, at least on an individual level, through a bug's non-empathic links. I am still certain they are not flawless, although it may be some time before I am able to get a concrete idea of how this works, and whether flaws are because Four Stripes is no tactical commander, or because the bugs are flawed.

Marra was shot with a regular bullet. She did not get injected with bugs, and the range on our normal x-ray goggles are sufficiently long, so Marra will use them.

There are some dips that act as trenches slightly around the southwest. Marra, Kort, Viln with Rokann, and Katzati move in, while I remain behind the corner just out of jammer rance. Lucera and Korli move back east out of combat with the second jammer.

Everyone gets in position and turns off the lights. Four stripes appears to dim down. I still sense him, but the other neumono are more or less in command, as much as they can be, anyway, of themselves. And they think something is wrong.

>"54, come in. Aqua Queen, come in..."

They start getting their weapons. Katzati still has the gel launcher. I may want to give her the command to use it. As risky as it is between caveins and loss of helmet data, they may not be sufficiently caught off guard.
>>
No. 500170 ID: 8b9215

Gel'em
>>
No. 500198 ID: d6ef5d

Meh, between the three of them, odds are one of the helmets will be useable if you gel them once. And we can't afford to get our people hurt holding back in a fight (intel won't help us if we can't move, or move quickly). As for cave ins, I think it's a low risk- we've moved away from the damaged area, and that place weathered 3 explosions. Katzati's the terrain person though, isn't she? If the area looked unstable to her, I'm sure she'd be smart enough not to fire it.

Take 'em down, coordinated fire. Again, we're going for disable rather than kill, but don't hold back.

If possible, after the fight (assuming nothing goes horribly wrong), when you're looting helmets and guns and stuff, see if you can replace the missing arm piece of your armor that got broke with one of theirs.

Note to self- these guys all wear armor like yours. Make sure you never put yourself in a situation where your friends are going to mistake you for one of them.
>>
No. 500201 ID: 9ddf68

well are you still trying not to kill them? if so I say use your gun (AP ammo) IF you're still in the gas filled part of the cave and just try and brake there breathing unites. well it probably won't stop them from being a threat I don't think they will be as effective if they're gassed up, and unless they store there mapping units in there mouth piece this gives you the best chance to grab one.
If you're not in a gas part of the cave or just don't really think that getting out of here without shedding some blood is possible then just gel the crap out of them and hope something remains when your done.
Or you could just let them pass and try and sneak behind them and go down that tunnel. I mean they're a hunter hive I really don't think they would expect the prey they're tracking to just slip past them so it could give you some breathing room for a little bit.
>>
No. 500216 ID: f2c20c

Hmm. Alright, I agree. I expected them to continue rushing in and fall directly into our ambush, so this isn't as optimal a situation.

Just be sure to use conventional ammo after the initial blast, so that we get at least one intact helmet.
>>
No. 500224 ID: b33427

Dangit. Four Stripes has a little more sense than we thought; He gave them back enough control to use their own, better, judgment, and they didn't just rush into our ambush.

We might be able to take them with just guns, but the risk with that is if even one of them lobs a grenade into our cluster of unarmored folks, we're screwed. We'd also be screwed if Viln gets a bullet to the brain, or if our group takes too much fire from them and can't get away. It's looking like the gel launcher is the safest option in this case, even if it does leave us with less loot afterwards.

Gesture to Katzati to use the gel launcher, but to aim behind them wherever the gel will land closest to them. That way the blast will carry them forward, out where the rest of the group can shoot them if need be. It also will put the brunt of the blast at the backs of their armor and helmets, the visors will be more likely to come out intact. And if there is a cave-in, they'll be blown away from it on our side, instead of being crushed or thrown back where we can't reach them.
>>
No. 500229 ID: f2c20c

>>500168
Hang on a second. Aqua Queen? Did you just take down a Queen?! That must've been the smaller one, come to think of it, if Aqua is the name of their hive and water-attuned neumono tend to have flat ears.
>>
No. 500231 ID: 155aa5

>>500229

Aqua Queen is most likely just referring to a squad leader or officer.

Aqua would be the squad / division name and Queen would be the commander of it, rather than an actual Hive-Queen.
>>
No. 500233 ID: 7b3680

don't interrupt him mid-comm. wait until after he talks with base to blow them all.
>>
No. 500885 ID: c4e5c2
File 136364406013.png - (34.86KB , 800x800 , 214.png )
500885

>Did you take down a queen?
Of a minihive. If it follows a similar structure, then every giant is or was a queen of their hive of about 8 or so neumono. It is not an accomplishment comparatively to Rokoa's queen, and nor was this queen particularly strong empathy wise.

That was all I could hear out of their communications. They start getting close. One of us must have been poking their heads out while the enemy either has some good eyesight or flipped to thermal.

>"Contact!" one yells.
"Katz, Gel!" I yell, and I hear a yelp from Katzati, but she was able to fire fine just before she gets shot in the head . She must have aimed high in fear that she would make it land too close to us, but having the explosion come behind them is perfectly fine. They get launched forward while the rest of us open fire on the unfortunate enemy who somehow managed to stay clumped together while getting knocked off balance.

Marra or someone turns on our light so the majority of us can fire back. I fire a few AP rounds. 12 shots with that ammo remain, and I swap out of night vision.
>>
No. 500886 ID: c4e5c2
File 136364407380.png - (22.11KB , 800x800 , 215.png )
500886

I end up on thermal vision.
>>
No. 500887 ID: 76b151

Cloaked enemies! dodge! Aim at the one near the center of those being shot. Then draw your pistol, to get the one near you.
>>
No. 500895 ID: d6ef5d

>Katz gets shot in the head
Oh, fuck. That's gonna mess her up. Even if she didn't lose an eye or anything, she isn't one of these crazy Rokoa tough people. She's out of this fight, and she'll be slowed down as we move- that's real unfortunate considering her size (might need Viln to help her walk or something, he's the only one bug enough for it).

...to say nothing of the fact it's unfortunate the cuddly non-soldier had to catch a round.

>Cloaked foes
Goddamn. Visual cloaking suits? At least that probably means they aren't heavily armored.

Dodge and start shooting the ones trying to flank you. Either explode them, or swap to the pistol and rapid fire. Yell to warn Viln and Marra of the one approaching on their left (maybe Viln's eyes will be good enough to see it? Or his improved nose will tell him where to shoot).
>>
No. 500899 ID: 9ddf68

Well those invisible enemies are the most immediate threat right now so I say deal with the one trying to gut you and warn Viln that an invisible guy is about to try and flay him alive.
>>
No. 500905 ID: 8b9215

Yell Cloakers and fire at them specifically. "Mark" each one with an HE round so your allies can see them.

Don't worry about collateral. It's better that allies are wounded than dead.
>>
No. 500911 ID: d6ef5d

>Don't worry about collateral. It's better that allies are wounded than dead.
Collateral is still a bad thing. Wounded allies slow us down and put the whole group at risk (and limit the manpower and skills at our disposal). The whole goal here is to shut down the enemy as quickly as possible with as little collateral damage on our side as possible. We don't have to win this one battle- we're in this for the long haul.

And I think High Explosive rounds would do more than "mark" the enemy, judging by the last guy their size we shot. I'm not sure if Polo can bring her rifle to bear quickly enough on the people flanking her though, use it effectively at that range. The pistol may be a better choice. (I'll leave that call to her to make though).
>>
No. 500916 ID: f2c20c

>>500886
Shoot the one about to hit Viln, first. Dodge the one next to you and shoot it next.
>>
No. 500956 ID: f59095

for the love of god warn Viln of the invisible guy to his left
>>
No. 500962 ID: f2c20c

>>500905
I disagree with using HE rounds. They have cloaking tech which we should STEAL.
>>
No. 501027 ID: c4e5c2
File 136367932186.png - (16.60KB , 700x700 , 216.png )
501027

"Cloaked enemy, at your left and front, Viln!" I say, shooting it.

It did, however, throw some kind of dart at Marra even as I hit it. While if I shot an HE round, it may have failed, the neumono was close enough to Viln and the others that it would almost certainly injure them. I hit it with an AP round instead, messing its cloaking up enough for Viln to see.
>>
No. 501028 ID: c4e5c2
File 136367934341.png - (12.08KB , 932x700 , 217.png )
501028

I get the shot off just in time to manage dodging the knife strike from the cloaker by me. I go for my pistol. She goes for something as well, perhaps a pistol as well. Marra turns the machine gun on my assailant, thankfully with good aim.
>>
No. 501029 ID: 155aa5

We should probably tell Marra to just go ahead and rip that entire ear off, with great haste.

It's either a toxin, a tracer, a bug, or some of the nanites inside the bugs for temporary control.
>>
No. 501030 ID: 57a559

X-ray! X-ray!
Wait, how many are left?
>>
No. 501031 ID: 8b9215

Tell Marra to rip off her ear that got hit with that dart.
>>
No. 501041 ID: f2c20c

>>501028
Whatever it's got, do not get hit by it, or at least not with your bad arm. Be agile. Stay on the defensive.
>>
No. 501046 ID: fb528f

I hope we can steal that guy's cloaking device. Shoot his eyes then break out the knife to finish him hopefully his bugs aren't responsible for the cloaking.
>>
No. 501049 ID: bf0685

yeah as nasty as it may be, prompt ear removal would probably be best, also dispite only seeing their highlights through the visor, does anything stand out off that could be ripped off that could be generating the cloaking field around them? if not, try destroying their neck, remove the head from the body
>>
No. 501057 ID: d6ef5d

Huh. Cloaking field of some kind, not a suit. Means it might be lootable, although it seems to preclude them wearing even bioarmor. Nos sure trading both layers of armor for cloaking that can be seen through would be worth it.

Still, we can't worry about trying to take equipment until we've got them all down.

That's 2 of the cloakers down. There should be a third near you, Polo. Gun it down while yelling for Marra to get that dart (and or ear) off before it does whatever it's supposed to do.
>>
No. 501069 ID: 450660

>>501027

Scan for possible compromise. If so, remove ear ... surgically, jeez.

If not, keep an eye on her. It's likely designed as a sedative. They probably are just trying to drug the hell out of you guys, bring you in, and do whatever it is salikai do.
>>
No. 501072 ID: d6ef5d

>>501069
...or, in a bout of absurd irony, the dart contains a drug to break mind control. Because the hunters came prepared to fight the salikai, don't know they're compromised, and they think we're fighting them because we are.
>>
No. 501094 ID: 9ddf68

if we brought all of them down start looting them and moving on and don't forget to see who got hurt in the fight and how bad
>>
No. 501103 ID: c7b0d3

unload.
>>
No. 501112 ID: c4e5c2
File 136371998742.png - (29.35KB , 700x700 , 218.png )
501112

"Marra! Rip your ear off!"
>"What?! What do you thi-"

"It could be anything! Slice your damn ear off!" I yell with no small amount of urgency in my voice while I start shooting the cloaker. It's like I'm wasting ammo without how much she cares. Marra is forced to reload. I checked Marra with my x-ray, and although there are no bugs or anything weird I can see, I do not feel relieved.

The cloaker by me pulls out a grenade while dropping her knife and tearing her face cloth off. She sticks the grenade in her mouth, and proceeds to try and grapple me even as I shoot. She's going suicidal.

She is blocking my view of what the other cloaker is doing, but the normal hunters appear to be down and out.
>>
No. 501113 ID: 9ddf68

she hasn't grabbed you yet, jump out of the way and keep rolling away until you hear a boom. then help finish off that last cloaked guy before we loot and run.
>>
No. 501114 ID: fb528f

Kneecap her and get as far away as possible. You may lament the loss of a cloaking device only after the grenade detonates.
>>
No. 501115 ID: 450660

>>501112

Well, there goes that theory. Damn. You could try to incapacitate, but I've a feeling that Four Stripes is ready to have them all suicide if need be. Best option is probably evasion.
>>
No. 501116 ID: c7b0d3

kick her in the face.
>>
No. 501118 ID: d6ef5d

Hmm. Actually, that cloaking material is looking more like some kind of skintight suit or painted on coating now. Looking pretty ruined, too. I doubt we're looting any of the stealth gear, even without the grenade.

>ear
After action, if Marra voices any complaint, tell her, complete deadpan, if you turn out to be wrong and the dart was harmless after all, that you will gladly tear off your own ear to make it up to her when this is all over.

(I mean, it has to be a drug or implant or something nasty. A tracker dart wouldn't be worth using on a neumono, since they can just cut it out. And using a dart for damage is even more pointless).

>Suicide-er
Damn. And here I was hoping not to kill any of them. Crazy bitch.

You need to get the hell out of the blast radius. Is suggest jumping and rolling backwards, possibly even firing your grapple behind you like a hookshot to pull yourself out of range. As you do so, shoot the crazy one on one side of her jaw. If you break the jaw or the attaching joint, the grenade should fall free, and maybe she'll only half kill herself.

Be sure to yell "grenade!" as you do, so your allies aren't caught off guard. You'll have to rely on Viln or someone to shoot the third cloacker you can't see.
>>
No. 501121 ID: 04b86a

>>/questarch/396721
>I could find a good little poison to knock out a neumono without that troublesome empathy linkup getting in the way.
It's a good thing that hit Marra in the ea-

>Nuemono is practically ignoring bullets
Oh. Oh. Use the dart on her-

>Grenade in mouth
Oh. Never mind about the dart. There's only a few seconds until it goes off, so I guess you should either dive away from her or try to rush past her.
>>
No. 501140 ID: 69aeea

Smack her with the gun so that the grenade goes down. Even humans have had a grenade go off inside them without anything getting out to damage someone else (there have been some suicide bombers who rather tragilariously underestimated their own bodies), so she should take enough of the blast to stop you taking damage. You might even be able to salvage her suit and anything else she has.
>>
No. 501175 ID: f2c20c

>>501112
Judo flip! Toss her somewhere unimportant.
>>
No. 501192 ID: d6ef5d

>face kick
>judo flip her
Don't do anything that involves getting closer to her. Those tactics might work, except you're pretty small (and at a mechanical disadvantage), and you've trained for evading larger opponents and grapples, not for offensive close combat. The consequences for screwing up would be disastrous (grenade at close range would wreck your gear, and put you out of it for days, provided you survive), and for all we know, suicide girl here is an expert grappler.
>>
No. 501204 ID: 35037c

Holy shit, run like the wind Bulls-eye!
>>
No. 501210 ID: c4e5c2
File 136374390033.png - (57.12KB , 700x700 , 219.png )
501210

I shoot her kneecap then pistol whip the grenade, trying to get her to jam the grenade in her throat or something, although she's biting tight, and I effectively pistol whip her teeth. I also have to retract early to avoid a grab on my arm, as while she is not massive, she is still a step above me, and getting grabbed here will either mean death and getting put out of commission for days, which may, if my group is unable to escape, may end up worse than death if the salikai get a hold of me.

"Grenade!" I yell and, during that, I use my other hand, to grapple to another rock and reel myself away. I keep my sniper under my elbow just to make sure she can't use it on my in the last seconds and ruin it.

She chases me, and she is fast even with a crippled knee. I'm not going to get out of the blast entirely, but once I run with the grappling hook, I am mostly out of it.

She decides instead to spit it back out and try to throw it.
>>
No. 501211 ID: c4e5c2
File 136374391365.png - (30.60KB , 700x700 , 220.png )
501211

But it explodes just after it leaves her hand, closer to her than me. I get knocked under some rocks, and I hear another grenade explode back at the group.

>"Polo!" I hear Marra yell.
"I'm fine! Are you?"
>"Yeah, I threw the fucker!" It would be nice if I could just 'throw' someone several meters away.

I do not see a third cloaker, although in retrospect it did look like there were three inconsistencies that I blankly ignored over 3 hunters coming down the path. Either way, I think the third cloaker is gone, at least from my vicinity, and it looks like we have a moment's peace.
>>
No. 501212 ID: f2c20c

>>501211
Check your gun while getting over to Katzati and the others. While I'm sure she can survive, can we keep her operational with our medical supplies?

Keep the infrared on and scout further down the passage where they came from, if we're not needed to help Katz. It's quite possible the gel knocked a third cloaked hunter back.
>>
No. 501214 ID: d6ef5d

>3rd cloaker?
Uh, looking at the reveal again, I think what I though was two people flanking you might only have been one? Either way, we'll just keep an eye out with IR from now on.

Still, cloaked ninjas with nasty darts and willing to resort to suicide tactics when pressed? Not fun.

>What do?
Assess your own people first. Someone check out Katzati (she needs first aid at least, and we need her ready to move and function, or someone helping her move), and Marra needs to take that ear off (it has to be drugged or something. What would be the odds they would bother with harmless darts? Use the line from here >>501118). Double check yourself for injury, too.

Then grab what we can off the enemies. Replace your damaged armor piece if possible, loot weapons and supplies, and get their mapping doodads. Stealth suits look torn to hell, unfortunately.

If Katz is up to it, we need her going through and integrating the enemy map data. Be wary of the a virus or CAI trap or something- we can't afford to lose what maps we do have.

And we need to be on the move as soon as possible.
>>
No. 501220 ID: fb528f

Get a closer look at what the cloakers were wearing and see if the material shows up on x-ray while you're at it.
>>
No. 501224 ID: 9ddf68

check your group to see how hurt they are and then get to looting anything of value from your attackers. Also grab on of those darts and Marra's ear she tore off and see if we can't get Korli to see what those darts do.
>>
No. 501279 ID: 2595b0

scan the area with infrared, and if you're in the clear, check the situation with the team. is everyone okay?
>>
No. 501310 ID: c4e5c2
File 136380712410.png - (26.05KB , 700x700 , 221.png )
501310

I check the cloaker cloth with x-ray. It shows up dimly, and I doubt it would completely hide the skeleton underneath. Still, thermal is the most visible. I keep thermal on for the cleanup in case another stalker is around, but it is not hanging around the corner I was blown into, nor around the vicinity.

I find an armor piece in my range of sizes, and can size it down to fit on my arm. I also make sure to get my guns back. 9 shots left for my pistol, 11 AP and 8 HE for my sniper.

"Katzati, how are you?"
She starts to nod, but then shakes her head. All of her is shaking, in fact.
"... hang in there. Do you need help walking?"
Her head shakes again slower, this time.
It does not look like it hit her eye, but grazed through her head at the side. "I'll patch you up. It looks like the bullet went through, so surgery is unnecessary. Korli, what do you think was in this dart? The first salikai I met said he could make a knockout fluid, but if it is, then it was not good enough for Marra."
She shrugs, then forms sign language to say that she will take a look at it later. It would have been nice if these gasmasks also allowed the wearer to speak.

I appear uninjured. Marra had another grazing shot on her arm. And although she does not look happy, she does not voice any complaint after all about her ear. So, I do not make any promises that I'll tear off my own ear if I was wrong about her having to do so. Not like I would during our mission here, as self mutilation for 'fairness' would be terribly misguided right about now.

Viln also got shot in the neck, but again only at the side and nowhere critical. Although the bullet is still inside, so I will need to pull it out at some point before he regenerates too much.

The thrown stalker that suicided made an explosion that threw a rock right at Kort's jaw, but it did not break.

>"We have to get moving." says Lucera.
>>
No. 501311 ID: d6ef5d

Oh, right, we're still inside the gas cloud. Another reason those hunters might have been willing to resort to suicide so quickly (besides the bugs and four stripes). Who knows what they were seeing.

Lucerra's right. We need our people patched up and on the move as soon as possible. You could ride with Viln and pull that bullet out of him, although you're probably more useful on point, outside of the jammer bubble to try and pick up hunters and scouting threats ahead of the group.

Hopefully we've made enough of a hole now that we can slip the cordon of hunters closing in without more combat, and get above the gas. Then we need to find a place to hide so injured people can recuperate, and Katzati can process the stolen map data (gotta be careful it doesn't contain CAI protection or a virus or something that would wipe the maps we do have).

>loot
Any useable ammunition to grab? We're getting kind of low. There were several pistols on those guys, at least. They should have clips, right? And check for mapper things! Katzati might not be up for it right now, but they should come in handy later.
>>
No. 501312 ID: f2c20c

>>501310
Alright. Loot guns, ammo, grenades, and nav systems. See if you can figure out if the cloaking devices are useful for any of you, and if so, grab 'em. First priority is getting clear of the area so we aren't attacked again. Second priority is getting an updated map.

Marra was talking a bit- does she need some clean air? She should borrow a mask if so.
>>
No. 501314 ID: 9ddf68

ok then we need to keep going forward or at least where we haven't been already, preferably up but I'm not sure if we have that luxury and maybe if we do find the salikai base they could have left the inside of the base ungased. But that's probably just wishful thinking on my part
>>
No. 501319 ID: 78c6ea

Keep the ear. Someone might be able to eat it before it goes bad.
>>
No. 501322 ID: d6ef5d

>>501319
...the ear we suspect is darted full of poison and/or drugs? No. That's not smart.
>>
No. 501354 ID: 8b9215

Loot and scoot.
>>
No. 501389 ID: 2595b0

>>501322

we could make some really metal socks out of it though. I still say we keep it.

continue down the side tunnel you took just now.
>>
No. 501398 ID: c4e5c2
File 136382528899.png - (27.75KB , 700x700 , 222.png )
501398

We loot what we can, I am sure to get the guns that still have ammunition. I find a pack of 24 bullets from them that can be used for our pistols, but otherwise their gear is ruined. The hunters had submachine guns with some ammo remaining, and one grenade is found. The load is still light enough for us to move steadily, even with wounded.

"We'll move out. Viln, I am going to remove your bullet later, but for now I will take point as usual, outside of the jammer bubble." We will keep Marra's ear. It is unsafe to eat, but we might be able to patch clothes with it. "Marra, you were talking. Did you breathe at all?"
>"No."
I will have to take her word for it that she can speak so much without drawing breathe, but we swap gas masks around again anyway.

I head out of the jammer bubble and start moving. I sense a faint neumono. It is not far away, just faint, barely there, dying and confused. It takes me a moment to realize where it's coming from. It is inside the dart. There is conscious neumono brain matter inside of the dart capsule that I kept on my person.
>>
No. 501401 ID: 2595b0

oh that sıck salıkaı motherfuckers are goıng down.

ponder on the ımplıcatıons after everybody ısn't bleedıng anymore.
>>
No. 501405 ID: d6ef5d

>Brain matter dart
...what the fuck.

So they were trying to infect her with foreign memories? Or a personality? It was a subversion or conversion tool? That's... pretty fucked up. Would that even work? Could as little material as is in the dart even significantly affect a target if absorbed?

We'll tell the other when next we get the chance- I'm sure Marra will be glad she got that out of her after all. Maybe Korli will have some insight- I'm pretty sure her hive or the salikai have conducting grafting or memory experiments (I mean, c'mon, they do specialize in mind control tech).

Like we really needed another form of mind control, though. And one that's subtler, harder to detect, and possibly impossible to reverse once successful.

>What do?
Keep moving. We've got a cordon to slip, gas to escape, and a tired, injured troop we need to find a safe place to hole up for.

...unless you're afraid Marra is compromised already? Then we might want to tell them first. I would think the memory implant wouldn't have had time to get past her ear before she severed it, but you would know your own biology better than I would.

>masks
You've been relying on your reserves in your airtight helmet, and breath holding. How long till that runs out and you'd have to join the gas mask rotation?
>>
No. 501406 ID: 9ddf68

I have not idea what that would mean if it got inside of someone but I can't believe it would be good.
also once again salıkaı have proven to be sick fucks. Do you have any idea what would happen if this got injected into someone?
>>
No. 501407 ID: eb682d

What

Anyway, try to keep this on a need to know basis, we don't need any big hits to our team's morale, especially Katz who has been doing pretty badly ever since things first went south.
>>
No. 501427 ID: f2c20c

>>501398
Tell Marra what they were trying to inject her with.

Hey, we're not leaving any blood trails are we? Make sure nobody's dripping.
>>
No. 501430 ID: e081fd

So they are doing biological warfare...using your own biology.

Hell, it probably has something in there to amplify the effect and make it able to hijack her, or was meant to cause temporary insanity and memory merge to break up the team dynamic.

Fucking Salikai, I vote we tell the group of this, especially Marra, because it was in there for a few moments, she might start showing some of the effects, like paranoia.
>>
No. 501437 ID: fb528f

Check Marra's ear for the wound where that dart hit. As long as it didn't hit near any veins or arteries she should be in the clear.
>>
No. 501439 ID: d6ef5d

>salikai
Actually, you guys are overlooking the darker possibility. That these darts are something the hunters came up with on their own. Assimilation rounds based off basic neumono biology, that only take low tech surgery to manufacture.

Perfect for neumono on neumono conflict.

...although, maybe they had a more benign reason for bringing this kind of gear on this mission? If they expected to be fighting enemy mind control, it sort of makes sense as a counter measure- their own mind control to try and restore compromised hivemates? Suicide troopers also look less dark if they were training and preparing to keep themselves from being compromised. Too bad none of it worked.
>>
No. 501440 ID: e081fd

>>501436

I'm sure that if the Hunter hive came up with those, they would have quite possibly every other Hive out there, not just the Ultra-Hive, ready with an axe, it's hard to keep stuff like that secret when it's quite honestly an abomination against the species.
>>
No. 501444 ID: 04b86a

I doubt that that little brain matter would be any good at altering someone's mind. It possibly could, sure, but the memories encoded in it would have to be very specific to even have a chance at having any meaningful effect.

I think it might actually be a tracker of some sort, for use against non-neumono or neumono who can hide their link without a jammer that the dart user doesn't expect to be able to subdue.

Or maybe the tissue's been engineered to produce some sort of toxin. That could be useful, and is a lot more feasible than using it as an empathy beacon.
>>
No. 501454 ID: f2c20c

I'd like to point out that the hunter hive isn't using jammers. Could we take Marra out of the jammer to check her empathic signature to make sure she's not compromised?
>>
No. 501456 ID: f2c20c

Oh. Wait, they are sortof using jammers. Those cloaked Neumono had no empathic signature.
>>
No. 501458 ID: d6ef5d

>>501456
During the battle, that's because they were within the range of our jammer (we would have had it covering the field of the ambush, so the hunters wouldn't sense our allies lying in wait as they approached). Before that, when Polo sensed enemies approaching, they were either out of range, under one of their jammers, or pinged as just another hunter.

>>501454
I don't think Polo knows Marra well enough to pick up on what is probably a small and subtle change (if there even is any), and it's not worth the risk of exposing the group to detection.
>>
No. 501482 ID: 8b9215

Don't tell anyone right now.
>>
No. 501493 ID: b33427

That is... bizarre, to say the least. Though since it's salikai tech it should be considered dangerous, even though you can't see the reason for it. Cover the needle point for now, just to make sure it doesn't accidentally inject you or anyone else.

Fall back to the group and hand the dart over to Korli, telling her what you felt, and that she doesn't have to answer in full right now because of the gas mask, but could she nod if she knows anything about this or not.

Once you're out of the gas, and in relative safety, Korli can step just outside the jammer field while holding the dart just long enough to sense if she recognizes the signature. For all we know, it could be a member of her hive, or someone else she knew.

Make sure that whoever is on rear guard is wearing the x-ray scanner and checking side tunnels as well as behind the group for any oddities. It's no thermals, but it's better than nothing when checking for cloakers.

>Ruined enemy gear
Dammit. Yet another bust on the map front. Were their helmets in worse shape than the two earlier ones that got exploded? Not worth trying to salvage the electronics from?

>Marra's ear
Actually, use this right now to try and figure out what the point of that injector dart is. Jab the dart into the ear, inject it fully, and later on sense what it did. Do it right now, so it'll be doing whatever it does during the time you're traveling. Just keep it within the jammer field, and in a container, to be safe.

Afterwards it'd be safe for Viln to eat, since anything that did get into it would only be hazardous to a neumono. If you wanted to be extra safe, cook it first; That'd destroy or kill anything injected into it.

>>501456
>>501458
Actually, it didn't appear that the cloaker fighting Polo gave off an empathic signature until she ripped her cloaking suit. Perhaps Polo could shed some light on when she could sense them, and when she couldn't, just to try and figure out if their cloaking suits either block empathic signals, or act as personal jamming units.
>>
No. 501541 ID: 440525

The legit fuck. We need to tell the team, that is really disturbing.
>>
No. 501766 ID: c4e5c2
File 136398348470.png - (23.90KB , 700x700 , 223.png )
501766

I can hold my breath for a couple of hours, so I still have plenty of time before I will absolutely need to be included in gas mask rotation.

I don't know what getting injected with this would do, or if it would even work. Knowing the salikai, with the neumono that they have, they likely have already tested it. Either it does something, or they were testing it on us. It did not hit any major veins in Marra's ear. I am not terribly worried about Marra's injection as I am about just about absolutely everything else.

>What about the helmets?
Right. We did pick those up. They are in decent condition, and if it is possible to extract map info or anything, it will be off of those.

I drift back into the group and bring Marra and Korli to the side. The jammer's range is increased for the moment so we can keep moving while I speak to them and them alone.

"This dart has living neumono brain matter. I don't know what it does. Korli?"
>"Shit what? Geez, you know, that salikai Rokoa killed on the electric bench that you first met was the most practical of people, he'd have made a plain old knockout fluid. The others go way over the top!" Korli says in sign language.
>"Barely any got in me." states Marra, also in sign.
"I think you'll be fine, but some of us should know."
>"Yeah, uh, I'll definitely try to see what I can once we're in the clear." continues Korli. "Buuut I am betting that it's condensed brain matter that might try to take over its host, but that brain matter would have to be crazy strong to do that. But, uh, yeah, no way that tiny bit that was injected would manage to get out of the ear that quick, and then have enough remaining in Marra to do anything but die off.
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No. 501768 ID: c4e5c2
File 136398362640.png - (23.19KB , 700x700 , 224.png )
501768

I put the capsule back my pouch. Neither of them were leaping to offer to hold it themself, and its signature is too weak to give away my location past a few feet. We keep moving.

It's quiet for too long to be comfortable. We are about 2 minutes from the river. The others then look behind them, and I realize that the helicopter drone is coming in from behind us.
>>
No. 501770 ID: f2c20c

>>501768
Just go shoot it this time. They already know our general location. Use pistol ammo, as we've got a surplus.
>>
No. 501773 ID: d6ef5d

>that salikai Rokoa killed on the electric bench that you first met was the most practical of people
He really was the most reasonable of them. It is a pity she killed him. We were even willing to work with him, for a time. The others are just plain nuts in comparison.

I wonder if that's why he was alone and on the outskirts, instead of inside and well defended like the others? He just didn't fit in with the others. Something maybe to ask Korli about later, once things calm down.

>that brain matter would have to be crazy strong to do that.
It's suped up on some kind of drugs to help with that, I imagine. Also to help keep the sample alive longer.

>heli-drone
Evading it, if possible, would be preferable (maybe hiding in the river would work, now that we've lost the bird thing). Let them go looking the wrong way for us.

If you can't evade it, and we're close the the site of the battle anyways, just shoot it.
>>
No. 501783 ID: 9ddf68

just can't catch a break can you? oh well just see if you can avoid it for now and if not just blow it out of the sky the quietest way you can and start moving double time. with or without that damnable drone they still now your somewhere around there so I think it would be best to not be around there anymore then necessary.
>>
No. 501785 ID: 34f12d

Putting down ten bucks it was extracted from a tumor.

They're giving you brain cancer.
>>
No. 501787 ID: d6ef5d

>>501783
The biggest danger of encountering (and or killing) the drone isn't getting a fix on our general area (which they already have) but telling them which way we're going.
>>
No. 501847 ID: b33427

Evade the heli-drone, and destroy it if you can't evade it.

If the vital gear, such as the jammers, weapons, and Katzati's laptop, are waterproof or in watertight containers, run to the river and have the group slip into the water; Don't dive, as even a splash would be suspicious. It won't be safe to stay close to the crossing, where there's air over the water, since if the drone flies over you if you stay there you won't have any idea if the group's been spotted or not. You're going to have to swim downstream to at least a point where the ceiling is low enough that the drone can't follow. Might have to swim all the way back to the spot where the camp was and climb out there, if the group can't claw their way back upstream.

However, if important gear wouldn't survive a dunk in the river, you'll have to head down the side tunnel on just this side of the river; You'd cross the river and try to lose the drone in the tunnels on that side, but there's just not enough time. Keep heading down the side tunnel, and if the drone doesn't follow, then turn back and head up again. If it does, then keep going, taking random branches, until you lose it, or it catches up and you have to either destroy it or capture it.

It's very likely that this flying drone is being controlled by an autonomous simple AI, since radio doesn't travel far down here. If it's destroyed while out of radio range, you'll have a bit of time until the fact its missing is noticed. Just try not to use a gun at first, since the noise might give you away. Have Viln wait in ambush at a corner, then snatch the drone out of the air, and smash it thoroughly. Then scrap up the pieces and pack them away so there's no sign it was destroyed. If Viln misses, then shoot the drone down.
>>
No. 502327 ID: c4e5c2
File 136425160469.png - (137.04KB , 700x700 , 225.png )
502327

Our gear is waterproof if we have to hide in the water. With the rain, however, the river still moves quickly, and it is relatively clear water anyway. It would be risky even to just dive in to go back to our last camp, and that is assuming the river does not split off somewhere between here and there.

I motion us to evade and pick up the pace. We do so. The sound does not diminish, and we appear to be going at the same pace as it is, but we are nearly at the river anyway. Just before the last bend, there is a neumono with his hands. He has a jammer.

Korli dives in front of me and starts making sign language. It is someone from the her science hive.
>>
No. 502328 ID: 78c6ea

Gun gun gun! He comes no closer. We need info bad, but not bad enough to let him close enough to stab us with neumono brains.
>>
No. 502330 ID: f2c20c

>>502327
X-ray scan him. If he's not infested, tell him to keep pace with us. Also check his ears for earbuds to make sure he can't just radio in our position. We gotta get away from that drone and make sure it doesn't see this guy, if he is on our side.

Oh, and I have an idea for us to catch a break. Can we go down the river a bit and set up an anchor in the wall or something, which would let us either put a floating platform up to rest or just find a small spot where people can stand against the wall? I doubt they will expect us to stop halfway down the river- they probably expect us to just go downriver until we find another passage. That should buy us some time, and it would be difficult for them to attack us on the river with anything but armed heli-drones.
>>
No. 502331 ID: 76b151

Hes been in the river. Cover him in case things go south but let Korli do her thing. Also remember jammers can be modified into bug relays so have someone watch Rokann as well.

That reminds me do a check on this guy to see if he is bugged.
>>
No. 502333 ID: d6ef5d

Cover him with your handgun, and check him with the x-ray. (I'd kind of suspect they'd bugged the whole science hive. We've seen from Rokann that the bugs have a passive mode- they could just have them sleeping in all the science hivers, and only turn them on if they run or rebel, preventing another Korli or Likol from happening. We might have gotten lucky though?)

If he's clean, bring him with us. We suspect someone from inside was helping us already- the science hive has a propensity to rebel, and someone snuck that voice synth warning in along the radio jamming signal.

See if he has anything to tell us. If he's clean (and not a double agent) he's here to help- he may know something useful to evading our immediate pursuit.
>>
No. 502334 ID: 8b9215

Get your pistol ready. Make some distance between him and you. We are going to have Korli talk to him. Scan him with everything you have.
>>
No. 502335 ID: d6ef5d

Obviously, we need to move/talk fast, since the enemy drone is closing in. We need to know why he sought us out (probably to help) but more importantly, even if he's clean, we need to verify for sure that he's here to help us, and that he's not a Salikai trick. (Ie, send a clean but loyal science hiver to lead us into a trap).

After the bug check, Korli should use physical contact to bypass the jamming so she can read him- as a hivemate she'll know his intentions and if he's lying better than anyone else.
>>
No. 502338 ID: 9ddf68

check him for bugs and if he's clean start moving him and striping him any weapons he might have and have him talk as you walk because that drone isn't going to stop moving just because we want to have a nice friendly chat with Korli's old friend.
>>
No. 502341 ID: 76b151

No talking, that drone could pick it up.
>>
No. 502342 ID: 57a559

>>502327
Is he her boyfriend?
>>
No. 502345 ID: b33427

Pull you pistol to cover him while doing an X-ray bug check. If he's dirty, then he gets tackled, bound, gagged, and hauled by Viln, same as Rokann.

Even if he's free of bugs remember that it's very likely Four Stripes could brainwash a neumono into being a sleeper agent even without them, given enough time. You're going to need a more careful check of his empathic signature than what can be done with direct contact within a jamming field.

Haul Korli up and over to him and stick her hand against his forehead for a preliminary check. Gesture for the group to stop just as soon as Korli's hivemate is within the group's jammer range. Flip his jammer off, then step outside the jamming field to check for other neumono. If it's clear, pull him and Korli just outside the field, keeping your hand on him so you can sense him as strong as you can for any oddities. Then whisper "which way?" to him, and carefully sense how he responds.

If he checks out, pull him and Korli back into the jamming field and follow his directions and instructions. If he doesn't, then he gets tied up, gagged and thrown over Viln's shoulder.
>>
No. 502405 ID: 6179a7

x-ray goggles, yo.
>>
No. 502436 ID: c4e5c2
File 136433146226.png - (20.31KB , 700x700 , 226.png )
502436

No bugs or abnormalities show up on x ray, thermal or otherwise while I keep a gun trained on him. I motion him to start walking quickly in front of me so we avoid the drone. He has a jammer at his back, and I tell him to reduce its range. He explains it is already minimal, and I check to make sure there are not currently any neumono behind him outside of his field. Physical contact with him yields a plain empathy. Odd, but odd in a strange person kind of way, not an odd in a bugged, artificial way.

Korli says she trusts him. I resist the urge to ask if he is her boyfriend, mostly due to hives not particularly having the concept.

"Where can we go to get out of here?"
>"Down the river. Hello, Korli. Polo, do you have an explosive tooth or some equivalent?"
"A what?"
>"Something to kill yourself with. Unlike the rest of you, Vanski is not after your life, just to make sure that you wish he was. He is no longer reasonable. There is a waterfall at the end of this that goes into a calm lake. I do not know what the wildlife is like around here, and if there is dangerous aquatic life, but the alternative is to get pinned here with salikai forces. They will probably be releasing the spiderbots before too long."
>>
No. 502437 ID: da61c0

>>502436
before too long? why weren't they released already? i don't trust a thing he says. he might be leading us to a trap.
>>
No. 502441 ID: d6ef5d

If our choices are between going over a waterfall and risking the native wildlife versus getting pinned by enemy forces, the choice isn't that hard. Over the falls we go.

We may also not be completely in the dark in the river- if Voklit have hidden gills than it's likely Viln's been underwater underground before. He likely knows a thing or two about the dangers here.

>suicide option?
...I suppose I've got a grenade, if it comes to that. Otherwise- no. Maybe I'm an optimist after all.

>information
I know we're on the move, and we have little time, but get as much out of him as we can while we're going. He's got fresh intel that we need. (Some of this we're obviously going to have to ask later- once we've reached somewhere safe and can actually talk).

What can he tell us about what's going on? Does he know how far beyond the hunter hiver the Salikai may have compromised? Or even how far in advance they did suborn the hunters?

...and no offense, but why isn't he bugged? Given the science hive's propensity to rebel at the first opportunity, I expected to find the whole hive infested as a backup control mechanism. How did he slip away and get to us ahead of the enemy?

Four Stipes. How closely integrated is he into these new bugs? (Ie, will killing him cripple them, or just limit the effectiveness?). Where are they keeping him?

Location of the Salikai base! And maps, if he's got them.

How's the gas being distributed in the caves? Korli could only speculate, but hard intel might help us do something about it.

Does he know anything about the brain darts?

If Vanski isn't reasonable, are any of the others more so, or afraid of V's course of action? Might it be possibly to play divisions among the salikai against each other?

And his name, naturally.

>spiderbots
...we don't have the ammunition to be fighting robots. Nor the right kind of weapons for it, really. We'd be overrun, easily.

>>502437
Korli's had a chance to read him, and she's a hivemate. If she thinks he's here to help and thinks he's trustworthy, that's the best judge of his intentions we could hope to get.
>>
No. 502442 ID: 9ddf68

fighting wildlife or fighting mind controlled solders and robotic death bugs... I like option A just a bit more, and besides it's not like we have a destination in mind, we're just trying to survive right now and hope we come out of this more or less not dead. But still be careful. I, like anyone else, likes a good Deus ex machina but seeing how nothing has really been going our way as of late I'm a little hesitant to just take anyone into our group just because they say they're a friend, especially when mind control is a fracture. and even if this guy isn't going to stab us in the back he did just say that the wild life here isn't all that friendly either. So I say just grab him and get your group over the falls as that drone is still on your ass and once we're in the 'safety' of the lake then we can play 20 questions.
>>
No. 502443 ID: 57a559

>>502436
Hey, yo, can we get a sitrep about the bugs? An official sitrep? Like how they got EVERYWHERE, like onto an entire ally hive? How they work? And efficient means of removal? Granted, okay, maybe he's not going to tell us but you know, anything true he would be willing to tell us about those would be awesome.

Yeaaaaaah, that would be great.
>>
No. 502447 ID: f2c20c

>>502436
I don't think he knows the situation. Inform him that the Salikai already released the bots, on the hunter hive we called as reinforcements. If the Salikai has EVEN MORE of them then well fuck. Also what made him decide to run off from his boss? Also also how long has the Salikai known that we're Polo and not just some other Neumono running around in a silenced biosuit?

We were going down the river anyway, so let's do that. Trust Korli that we can trust him.
>>
No. 502455 ID: b33427

I'd be rather wary to trust what this guy has to say, since any neumono that's been around those salikai for any length of time are suspect. Voice this to him and ask how you could trust what he has to say, what with all the neumono mind-screwing methods the salikai have at their disposal. Another big question you have is how he found out where you were and got here so quickly.

However, you are going to have to take the group down the river anyway, since it's the best option right now. The only other options were to take an unknown tunnel right before the river, or cross the river into a knot of tunnels that only have one other exit. The first one could easily be a dead end or run right into enemy forces, and the second would be too easy to get trapped in. So better prep everyone to dive in and swim downstream.

Ask Viln what kind of dangerous creatures live in the rivers and lakes down here. Break out the ropes and tie everyone together with at least two rope each, with Viln in the lead. Give that partially filled air tank to the member of the group that can hold their breath the shortest. As soon as the group is out of the gas, pull and stow the gas masks so they're not fouled by the water. Spread the jammers out so if a part of the group does get separated, they'll more likely still have coverage.
>>
No. 502457 ID: d6ef5d

>>502447
Spider bots are presumably different from what's been already released. The first gen love bugs looked spider-ish, but the new and improved second generation mind control bugs show up as slivers on x-ray.
>>
No. 502466 ID: b33427

>>502457
Oh, wait. Could these "spiderbots" be the same kind of bots that jabbed Three Stripes in the eye, back in the hidden hive ruins? Though it'd be a bit odd to call them spider-like, since they only had three legs.

Better confirm with this guy what the spiderbots look like, what they're capable of, and where they can go.
>>
No. 502474 ID: d6ef5d

>>502466
Unlikely. Considering they were broken multipurpose bots. >>/questdis/61577 I'd assume what they're releasing now would be more along the lines of killbots.

And coming back to the suicide option: while having something like that prepared might spare you from a fate worse than death if captured, ultimately, I don't think it would have been a good idea to have one prepared. If you have something inside you that can kill you quickly, what happens if it goes off when you don't want it to? The device could be hacked, or set off accidentally (by an impact, or a bullet, etc). So I don't think it's a bad thing you overlooked a built in suicide pill of some kind, Polo.
>>
No. 502477 ID: c4e5c2
File 136434922859.png - (39.28KB , 700x700 , 227.png )
502477

"I don't have any suicide option other than a grenade. I guess I'm an optimist. Are the bots the three legged ones in your old abandoned town?"
>"It is your choice. And those are the ones. They've been fixed up and outfitted with miniturrets."
"They only had three legs."
>"Yes?"
"That is not a spider."
>"Spiders are not mechanical, either."
"... anyways, I am going to have a lot of questions for you, but for now, what made you leave your boss?"
>"For the same reason as Korli. We all want to leave. The salikai just has to make each of us selfish enough to find an opportunity to do so."

We arrive at the river.

"Viln, are there dangerous fish in the water?"
"The fish here are small, tiny. Mostly harmless."
"Mostly?"
"Group of flesh eaters sometimes come. Very rare, but only way to live is to get out of water." Although he is not shouting it down the cavern, everyone heard him.
>>
No. 502478 ID: 76b151

right, you go first. You have armor and can use that ear she tore off as bait in case there are piranha in the water.
>>
No. 502479 ID: f2c20c

Very rare, he says. So we'll probably run into them.

We'll go first, since we have armor. If we run into anything that looks like a flesh eater- get a description- we can yell back to get out of the water.
>>
No. 502481 ID: 9ddf68

well you're the supper solder here, guess that means you pick the short straw by default. So get in that river and then have everyone else follow, just make sure someone is watching our new 'friend' as he has yet to earn our trust.
>>
No. 502482 ID: d6ef5d

Mini piranhas? Great.

We have wounded. Blood in the water's not going to draw them right to us, are we?

Otherwise, I think we have to risk it. Korli's hivemate risked his life to put us on this path, believing we'd be caught otherwise. We trust Korli, and she trusts him- meaning we have to trust his intel. And he wasn't bothered underwater, at least?

Armored tiny person goes in first to test the waters. Should have Marra's ear ready to sacrifice to draw murder-fishes off, if necessary. Then we all head in, tied together if we've got the rope for it. Viln should probably be at the front of the line with you- since he's the strongest (hauling the line along), and voklit are apparently partially aquatic (gills hidden under the fur and all).

...remember to thank Viln when we eventually surface. Don't want to take him for granted, and he ain't a slave no more.

>old three legged spiderbots
Well, on the plus side, those weren't terribly durable. Anti-personal guns should kill them. On the downside, they're going to be small, nimble, and probably be a lot of them at once. Not a fight we really want to have.

>Very rare, he says. So we'll probably run into them.
Of course.

Well, Polo had a good run as an optimist. Lasted a good minute before going back to expecting the worst.
>>
No. 502486 ID: b33427

Well, the somewhat good news is that with all the rainfall the river's going to be flowing so fast that even fish couldn't swim upstream, and any scent from your group would flow downstream. As long as the group doesn't jump in in the middle of a school of those fish, you'll be fine.

Ask Korli's hivemate (who you should get the name of) about how far it is from here to the waterfall, estimate how fast the water is flowing, and figure out how long it'll take to get there and check if everyone can hold their breath that long. It'll probably be even shorter than the estimate, since everyone should be swimming downstream the whole way.

Stick Marra's ear on a grappling hook, slice it partially open so the blood inside can seep out, and throw it in to see if a horde of fish descend on it. If so, yank the ear back immediately, pull it off the hook, and throw it back in so they follow it downstream. Then it'll be safe enough for everyone to get in.
>>
No. 502491 ID: f2c20c

Hang on, bots that size would tip over if they used a minigun without some sort of recoil compensation.
>>
No. 502501 ID: d6ef5d

>>502491
Then they probably have it. That, or they can't run and gun- they dig in with their claws and adopt a stationary firing position.

>>502486
Problem with that. If we're going to ride a waterfall into a lake, we'll be going downstream! Also, I would think we'd rather try and avoid attracting the piranhas at all, rather than trying to lure them in and feeding them, and hoping we get clear before they finish. We should use the ear as a distraction to buy time if we find them, not to bring them to us!

Also, we may need the grapple to get out the water quickly, or as an emergency anchor. Tying it up as a bait line seems a waste.
>>
No. 502502 ID: b33427

>>502501
Actually, I was suggesting that Polo stick it on the grappling hook and throw it into the river just long enough to check that her group isn't jumping headlong into a school of flesh flaying fish. Though the risk of them being in a rapidly flowing river isn't that big, they could still be washed down from somewhere above. The real big risk is that they're infesting the lake at the waterfall, in which case everyone should be warned to get out ASAP once down the waterfall.
>>
No. 502504 ID: f2c20c

Let's not forget there's a drone following us. If it sees us go into the river they'll just follow us.
>>
No. 502517 ID: b89cf7

spiderbots are a lot worse than flesh-eating fish. swim.
>>
No. 502530 ID: 450660

>>502477

Well, looks like it would be safest to go one at a time? That way we have a scout or two to ensure it's safe, rather than worry about the whole party popping up in an accidental ambush.

Polo, since you're the one covered in armor, it might be best to test the waters -- since I assume flesh eaters aren't accustomed to chomping through metal plates.
>>
No. 502531 ID: d6ef5d

It might be a good idea to swap masks around again before going under- we don't know how long we'll be underwater, so let the people who've been holding their breath fill up again before going under.

>>502504
Yeah. We can't afford to faff around much before getting underwater depending on how much time we have before the drone catches up.
>>
No. 502538 ID: eaf2f5

Say YOLO and do a backflip into the river
>>
No. 502546 ID: c4e5c2
File 136441639695.png - (26.82KB , 700x700 , 228.png )
502546

Bots that size would probably tip over of the minigun had any decent calibar. They probably have recoil compensation, but that is for later to worry about.

"We have a moment, and only a moment, before the drone gets up. Everyone tie each other in a line. I'm going first, Viln second."
>"It's irrelevant if they see." the science hiver says. "Our goal is not to lose them just by entering the water tunnel, our goal is to buy time so that we can."

Either way, we start to tie each other together in a line, and I get to Kort.

>"I'm not going in." Kort says, his first words in a long while not being ones I like hearing.
"Then you're getting shot, captured, and then wishing you got killed from getting shot."
>"Don't care! I don't want to go in there. Can't do it. I'm not doing it. I am sick, of this fucking shit."
>>
No. 502547 ID: 78c6ea

That's why we're going in. We're all sick of this shit! You want to stop trying, inhale deeply and enjoy your unspeakable nightmares. Rest of us are taking the easy way out.
>>
No. 502552 ID: 57a559

>>502546
No, you're going through so they can't torture your sorry ass for interrogation, or worse, compromise you. Here's the thing, the salikai? If it gets its hands on you, it'll send you after us in psychological warfare. If you care about anyone in the group and don't weant their potential blood on your hands, or for them to carry the guilt of killing their comrade, he'll go through.

Give him the illusion of option. For a little bit. Then knock him out if he refuses and carry him with you, we can't afford the salikai the chance of using psychological warfare for even a little bit. We can't rely on our allies to being able to shoot and kill him if necessary, and we can't do it ourselves less we lose the loyalty of our members.

He'll come around later, if we're in a place of safety. He'll have time to think and reflect then.
>>
No. 502554 ID: 001618

Tell him we're all tired of this shit but what is giving up going to do? Nothing that's what, we have to keep moving, to keep pushing foreword through all of this Bull shit. Because that is the only way this is ever going to truly stop.
>>
No. 502556 ID: d6ef5d

>It's irrelevant if they see.
Then we might as well shoot the drone. It's going to catch up as we deal with Kort.

>Kort
Godsdangit, language man.

Honestly, my first reaction is to stomach shoot him and have Viln carry him. But he can't hold his breath if he's unconscious, and the blood might attract piranhas. So that's out.

Time to bluff. We're going scary Polo again- like you did after blowing up the shotgun QI.

Draw your sidearm. Speak with a cold fury- and turn off your silence and grab him for the empathic impact. Fine Kort, you're too stupid to be afraid of our pursuit. What you should be afraid of is me. I don't know if you know my record, but I have this thing about completing missions. I volunteered for what should have been a suicide run to see the last one through. And I am a successful assassin to boot.

So don't think for a moment I won't shoot you myself if that's what I need to do to keep the rest of these people safe. I am not leaving you behind to be interrogated and place the rest of those I am responsible for at risk.

Then shoot the drone for effect- it should be here by now.

Do we understand one another?

...if he still fails to comply, he's getting tied up at gunpoint and lugged along by Viln. Who you'll apologize to. You're sorry to force him to carry an idiot- but you can't leave him behind. It's your own kind of honor.
>>
No. 502562 ID: e9140c

staying here won't make the shit go away. in fact, you'll be so deep in shit when the salikai get here and capture you you'll miss this moment of being tired of this shit during the few lucid moments you get in-between physical and mental torture so horrible a neumono couldn't even conceive of it. so decide quickly to either stay or come, because we sure as fuck aren't going to stick around and waste time on your disorderly ass while they creep closer and closer. just do yourself a favor and stick a grenade in your mouth and pull the pin in you do decide to stay because you'll wish you had if you don't.

motherfucker.
>>
No. 502587 ID: fafb12

Careful. Come on too strong and he might fall into fullblown apathy. Turn up the anger until you break his resistance, but don't push him beyond that.
>>
No. 502591 ID: b33427

Fuckin' hells! Does Kort not get how fuckin' serious this is? Does he not get the fuckin' gravity of the situation? He's going to lay down and get mind-fucked by the salikai's pet predator and turned into on of their goddamn puppets, all 'cause he has a sudden case of aquaphobia?! Well, fuck that! You're not going to let him.

Impart on him how goddamn fuckin' serious this is by tackling him to the ground, clamping both hands around his neck tightly so you've got a good empathic conduit and to shut him up, and letting your empathic block drop. Tell him in no uncertain terms that you are not going to leave him behind. 'Cause no matter how much he's scared of going into that water, it is nothing compared to what the salikai will do to him. Nothing! Not even in the same fuckin' galaxy in comparison!

If he still feels like he's going to try and stay or run, call Viln and Marra over to pin him down, tie him up, and gag him. He's coming with, whether he wants to or not.
>>
No. 502592 ID: d6ef5d

>>502591
...no tackling. We're not built for it, and the trick here is to make him afraid of what Polo will do to him, not to force him into fighting back against an ineffectual attack. We're trying to push him into flight, not jump right to fight.
>>
No. 502598 ID: 8b9215

Pop Pop Pop Pop elbows and knees. Viln, drag his ass along. Don't waste time tying him up.
>>
No. 502601 ID: fb528f

>>502598

Go with this if using empathy with physical contact fails, at least you'll be close enough to shoot the knees without complications.
>>
No. 502604 ID: 57a559

>>502598
No blood should be drawn
It might attract the flesh eating fish.
>>
No. 502605 ID: d6ef5d

>>502604
This is correct.

Additionally, there's no need to waste for shots crippling him if we could force him into hibernation with one shot (he's not going to be tough enough to resist the stomach shot). And there's no need to shoot him at all considering Viln could restrain him one handed while we tied him up, if need be.

Considerations of what kind of force to apply only come into effect if Polo can't scare him into obeying, of course.
>>
No. 502607 ID: f2c20c

Don't be a monster. It's his choice if he wants to keep running or not, but we need to fully understand him, so we should probably have an empathic conversation.
>>
No. 502609 ID: b33427

>>502607
Okay, okay. Yeah, you're right. Before getting all shouty, best to at least ask him why the heck he'd rather put himself at the mercy of the salikai, knowing full well what they can and will do, than jump in the river. Perhaps he has extreme aquaphobia or some other reason, and you could talk him down. Though, he's still coming with, even if it's bound and slung over Viln's shoulder.
>>
No. 502628 ID: 450660

>>502546

Well, we've got two options. The rest of us feel like shit for letting him die a horrible death, or he can get over it and whatever fears or butthurts are holding him back.

There's also the third option: we bring him along anyway, even if that means smacking him over the head a few times.

Okay, I'll be honest here. Talk him down. No matter what, it's a risk, but we need as many as we can keep with us.
>>
No. 502646 ID: beeca1

>>502607
>empathy conversation
>dropping silence right now

No.

Also, how is that "monstrous"? "Monstrous" would be raping him, implanting bots in him, and making him come with us. Dragging him along isn't monstrous, especially since we're saving his life and keeping everyone safe.
>>
No. 502647 ID: d6ef5d

Oh hey, just noticed he's not wearing a mask. Could it be the gas is making him stupid here? It kind of makes sense that encouraging you to give up and stick in one place might be part of what they're selling.

>>502607
Saving his life from his own stupidity and keeping everyone else safe in the process, isn't being a monster. Even if it involves being intimating or mean in the moment.

>>502646
We're inside the range of a jammer (more than one, actually). Dropping silence wouldn't risk exposure- it would just allow empathic contact with anyone Polo were to physically touch. And if we're going to bully or scare him into coming along, letting him feel the full weight of Polo's frustration, cold anger and the dread certainty she will do what she has to do to keep the group safe, including shooting him if need be, seems like it would be productive.

And yes, we don't have a lot of time for a deep touchy feely heart to heart talking him out of his insecurities, but I'd rather try to intimidate him into complying before dragging him. Once we have to tie him up he's just more dead weight.
>>
No. 502648 ID: beeca1

>>502647
That's the point- we really shouldn't touch him if the gas is affecting him. No empathy contact with possible crazies, period.

Also, the jammer could be destroyed by the drones in the near future, so I'd rather not rely too heavily on it.
>>
No. 502651 ID: d6ef5d

>>502648
Um. Empathic contact with people affected by the gas isn't harmful. It's not infectious that way. Polo was receiving empathy from everyone affected the whole time the warship was gassed, even after she broke free, without ill effect. (Her silence can't block incoming signals, after all). And the jammer in the brig didn't protect us from getting sucked into the mass hallucination, anyways.

And being able to pick up on whether he's just making a stupid decision out of fear and stress, or whether he's been addled by the gas, would actually be a nice think to know. And should factor into how Polo responds.

And keeping silence on for fear of the jammers being destroyed isn't rational. If the jammers are broke, our position is exposed- whether Polo silent or not. And she can turn it on or off at will if she needs to, anyways. So there's no reason not to turn silence off when it's helpful to do so.
>>
No. 502673 ID: 57a559

Well, if we're this conflicted about hurting him I could just act accordingly to my name and nature and suggest, as neumono might say, a "play session in the ballpit" once we're safe.

Or hell, I'll be slightly less disgusting and more dignifying and just say he'll miss out on the celebratory strip poker game once we're in the clear.
>>
No. 502675 ID: 450660

>>502648

Wouldn't it be fine if we're wearing armor? I mean, empathy doesn't work through clothing, right? At least, I don't think it does.
>>
No. 502676 ID: c4e5c2
File 136452054749.png - (16.60KB , 700x700 , 229.png )
502676

"We are all sick of this shit, and you are going to miss the bygone days of being hunted should you be caught. Which I am not going to allow. You are going in the water. On your own volition, tied up, or kicking and screaming. Are you going to be dead weight?"
>"I was here to translate for voklits, not get mixed up in this salikai crap!"
"Missions change. I was here to search for the salikai, not have therapy sessions for people afraid of the water."

There is a moment of silence. I resist the formidable want to punch him repeatedly. I almost hope it is the gas speaking, because at least it would mean he is not normally like this.
>>
No. 502677 ID: c4e5c2
File 136452070267.png - (132.43KB , 700x700 , 230.png )
502677

Or half of one, I was not planning on giving him a moment, but he opens his arms and lets me bind him before I make him.
"Now stop talking. You have no gas mask."

Physical contact wouldn't do much for intimidation. While it may let him know I meant business, it would be weak and do little to sway him any more than my words. Thankfully the words were enough. Between normal clothes and the armor, it would have been even more difficult as well.

We go through the water before we see any commotion. The flesh eating fish do not come, and we end up spilling out into a lake a solid 10 minutes later. Kort freaked out the hole way and ended up breathing in water, but he will be fine after a coughing fit. Lucera drifted off a bit far and managed to bang up his side on a rock. It looks worse than it is.

"Korli's friend. What is your name?"
>"Niam."
"Alright. Where are we going?"
>"Not very far. Far enough such that they will need to split up, but I believe the salikai will expect us to keep moving as quickly as possible for an escape. We will be best off hiding under their noses. There are calmer rivers that we can swim through to get to underground alcoves. For now, we need to stop ourselves from leaving a trail of water."
>>
No. 502680 ID: d6ef5d

Oh hey, we got out of there before the drone caught up. That's something. That means our pursuit can't be immediately sure if we went into the river or across (although I suppose a clever drone pilot or AI could look at the opposite bank for evidence of us getting out? If the camera's good enough to see wet footprints on dark rock).

I don't suppose we're lucky enough that the river brought us somewhere the gas hasn't reached yet? It might be possible, if we passed through a completely underwater tunnel (no air gap) and the gas doesn't mix well with water.

>>502673
Yes, because it worked so well when Polo resorted to that with Rikek. :V

>physical contact jammer bypassing empathy weak
>not good for persuasion
Noted. We'll stick to using it for emergency sympathy sessions and necessary are you evil, crazy, compromised, or lying to me checks then.

Well handled though, Polo. You talked him into it that with a minimum of threatening. (We may have to talk to him later though, if his moral is going to be a problem. We've done a decent job of keeping Katzati going).

>Lucera drifted off a bit
Dang. Roping the group together was supposed to prevent that. Oh well, he probably would have drifted further, otherwise.

>We will be best off hiding under their noses.
Yeah, I agree with this thinking. If we can find a secure place to hold up while they run around looking for us, that's better than running ahead of them. Then that frees the group up to heal, recover, process stolen maps, finish debugging Rokann, and possibly free Polo up to take guerrilla action instead of having to shepherd and protect the group.

>we need to stop ourselves from leaving a trail of water
Short of shaking off and risking a quick break to dry, I'm not sure how to do that. It's not like you guys brought towels. Unless Viln's got a trick for it? I'm not sure how often hiding a water trail would have come up hunting down here.
>>
No. 502682 ID: 57a559

>>502680
Hey, that was a completely different situation with predator hypnotism and a half-assed motorless motorboat. We never allured Rikek with tantalizing strip poker games or ballpit fun. New strategies in new situations with minimally related basics.

>>502677
I suggest using each others' ears as makeshift towels, or any spare fabric for getting rid of the water trails. Viln may also have advice because I'm sure voklit handle this all the time in tribe warfare or in hunting.
>>
No. 502684 ID: f2c20c

>>502677
Alright, let's shake off that water, then. Get dry fast, or at least get rid of the excess water so that you don't drip.

Let Rokann down so that she can dry herself too. Just tie a rope around her waist for it, no need to get all complicated about it. I'm not sure if she should keep the blindfold on or not.
>>
No. 502685 ID: fb528f

Ask Viln if he smells any hallucinogenic gas. Check with Niam and see if you can plan a raid on a Salikai armory at some point. Just imagine the legend you will leave if you can get your hands on that cloaking suit the infected neumono had earlier.
>>
No. 502686 ID: b33427

Everyone that's wearing regular clothes is going to have to strip down to their skivvies to dry off and wring out the clothes; You and Niam can just brush the water off your respective armor and wetsuit. Pass around any combs the group has to work the worst of the water out of their fur, and comb it out of each other's hard-to-reach spots like their tails. You might have to comb the water out of some of Viln's mane, unless he has another option to get the water off.

Take a second to check how Katzati and Lucera are doing, respectively mentally and physically. How's Katz holding up? Was Lucera's injury enough to break ribs, and if so would they benefit from being bound right now? Maybe check him on x-ray for that.

Ask Marra to get Rokann down and check on how she's doing. See if her bugs are active, and make sure her earplugs and blindfold are on good. You're also going to need her to help you strip Rokann's clothes, dry her off, and put them back on.

Ask Niam that, if he's going by the salikai's maps to know where alcoves are, as you assume he is, how come they won't send search parties to check them; The voklits on their side would be perfect for that job. Or do the salikai somehow not know about those alcoves?

Take a moment to tell Kort that you won't apologize for what you said before, since you meant every word of it, but you are sorry that he has to go through aquaphobic hell in order to escape. He can at least take solace there's going to be a dry place to rest at the end of it.

>Kort inhaling water
Dangit, forgot about that partially filled air tank. If it had a watertight breathing mask, or one of the gas masks was watertight and had an external hookup, he could have worn that. Even if the air supply is off, it'll keep him from inhaling water when he flips out.
>>
No. 502687 ID: d6ef5d

>>502685
I guess wringing out tails and ears over the river and using them as towels works? Cue awkwardly silly drying scene.

>>502685
Add it to the list of things to ask when once we've reached a safe hiding place, we've got quite a few as is. (Although I hardly think Polo's worried about her legend. She's already soloed a vernaunt and grottle and killed a Salikai barehand, remember? :V)

Although, personally, I wasn't every impressed with the stealth suits. They damaged very easily- more suited to a one off surprise attack than a longer campaign. They were skintight- and seemed to preclude wearing armor, possibly bioarmor as well. And for some reason the ninjas were equipped with knives, darts, and grenades. No guns!

Not sure why. Possibly because you're limited to things you can slip into the stealth suit (a cloaked sheath for the blade, cloaked pockets for the rest). A larger rifle or backpack with gear wouldn't be able to be cloaked. Not sure why they didn't have handguns though. Still too big to conceal, or maybe just firing is enough to damage the suit, or get residue over the cloaking?

All in all, seems like there are a lot of drawbacks and except in very specific situations, I don't see the visual stealth being worth the other trade offs. Especially inside the salikai base. Their cameras can probably see IR.
>>
No. 502689 ID: 9ddf68

Are your packs you guys are using to hold you gear water tight? If so you have got to have some kind of fabric or something like it in at least on of them to be able to use as a towel. And now that we are a little more free lets have a nice quiet conversation with Niam to see what we can find out about the Salikai and there plans.
>>
No. 502692 ID: 78e3e7

yeah check on kort, try & keep him calm if he's still freaking out, for now I guess we could drip-dry & have a quick bite to eat just to help settle everyones nerves & regain some energy, how is everybody? some seem to be troopering better then others but it could be a delicate situation if kort's panic could set off the others.
>>
No. 502717 ID: c8a283

shakeity shake
>>
No. 502738 ID: 450660

>>502677

If you've got water-tight packs, maybe put major garments in there. At least keep those from adding to the mess. Not sure about what to do with being covered in fluff and all. How fast do you guys dry out, anyway?

I mean, are we talking about leaving a 3ft trail or a 30ft trail, here? If it's a difference of a few feet because you're all furry sponges, well ... not much point, eh?
>>
No. 502743 ID: 997ce7

>>502738
Pretty much. Weigh any reduction in length of trail versus how much more time it would give the hunters to catch up.
>>
No. 502786 ID: f2c20c

Hang on, if we need to hide right under their noses, shouldn't we leave a false trail? Dry off a bit here, then leave a watery trail in one direction before doubling back and going another way once we're drier?

Also if we're going to spend time drying off, maybe we have enough time to get a map from the recovered helmets.
>>
No. 502787 ID: b33427

>>502786
I think Niam is thinking that they'll think that we're going to stick to the water and swim with the current in order to get as far away as fast as possible. In that case, we either don't want to leave any indication we got out at all, or that if we did we got right back in in the same spot.
>>
No. 502797 ID: c4e5c2
File 136463504419.png - (56.94KB , 700x700 , 231.png )
502797

"I don't suppose you know any good ways to dry off, Viln?"
"Not the voklit problem."
"Do you smell gas?"
"No wrong smell."

At a closer look, Viln's main does not appear to absorb water like normal fur does, or at least not as much. He shakes it off.

Kort is not moving much outside of shaking, likely more from mental duress than physical. I will attempt to keep an eye on him, but he does not appear to be any mood to be spoken to right now. An X-ray on Lucera shows that his ribs appear intact, it was mostly a skin scrape and bruising.

"And Katzati, how are you doing?"
>"My head is pounding, but... better..."

The stealth suits are no good from what I see. There are too many limitations, do not block IR at all and only somewhat obsure x-rays. They must be prototypes, as I have not heard about cloaking suits ever being used to much effectiveness in combat.

But I am distracting myself, and everyone is shuffling uncomfortably around each other about this 'get dry' concept and clearly would rather keep moving. We are certainly dripping, and would leave a lengthy trail that I doubt evaporates particularly quickly around here. I don't think we have the means to make a false trail that looks like we kept on moving and did not just turn back around. There are various means to get partially dry, but nothing effective enough to get rid of as much as we need to. All thoughts converge on one option, and, despite how petty it is in the face of brain-tubes and hijacked hives other monsterous concepts, I don't like it.

"Niam, if the salikai's maps know where the alcoves are, what is stopping them from searching?"
>"Nothing. Although maps are only available with certain chunks at a time for CAI defense, they have nearly the whole cavern mapped out. We are maximizing our chances of being missed, but it is still up to luck."
"Alright... everyone dry off, use dry clothes from our pack if we have to, after..." No mission spares me from such scenarios. "Strip down to your underwear and... oscillate. Rokann, I'll watch you while you do it too." Lucera stares at me like I told him to slime himself, and keep the slime on this time. Some others simply hesitate for a moment.
>>
No. 502798 ID: c4e5c2
File 136463506309.png - (28.40KB , 700x700 , 232.png )
502798

Oscillating ourselves to get water off is not done in modern hives anymore. In part of our modernization, we are firmly taught at a young age to not do certain things. Don't eat spaghetti sauce with bare hands. Wipe muddy feet when entering a carpeted building, or wear shoes. And whether or not shoes are worn, wear clothes.

Included is 'don't shake fur out.' It's a small action on its own merit, but it is explicitly taught to young neumono who go to school. Unlike off the wall disgusting actions such as sliming oneself, this action explicitly hits home. It just is not a big act on its own, but I can practically sense the awkward empathy emanating from everyone, like the scenario has reduced them to primitive snarlers.

I can tell that some of us have forgotten that we even could oscillate, but millions of years of evolution will not be miraculously erased when a human teacher screams "NO" as we walk into school during the rain and shake ourselves off. Right in front of the principal who happens to be walk around the corner at that exact moment. Once again, I am glad for my armor for more than its 'not getting shot through the face' qualities.
>>
No. 502799 ID: c4e5c2
File 136463507444.png - (24.38KB , 700x700 , 233.png )
502799

Niam leads us through another series of tunnels after we put that behind us, as apparently what he has in mind is not accessable directly from the lake's water flow. After all that work drying off, we dive in again, thankfully in a wider, calmer river. From below, we see the underwater alcove and swim upwards into it. Me, Viln, and Niam who led us, get out first, quickly following everyone else who was tied together again. It is a small cavern that quickly becomes blocked off from a wall with a doorless entry.

"A building, Niam?"
>"From long since dead hive. There are spots like this throughout the caverns, and one large burrow several kilometers from here. There is nothing inside here, it is no better than the rest of the cave for living space."
"Entrance. Too small." Viln says behind us.
>"There is room out here. Otherwise, smash the wall and make an entrance."
>>
No. 502801 ID: f2c20c

>>502799
Break the wall, but try to do so without making a HUGE racket. Like, pull at loose bricks instead of exploding it. The wall looks loose so it shouldn't be hard.

Of note is that even if we do make some noise, there's nowhere for the noise to go. This is an isolated cavern. The sound will spread out through rock and water and become lost in the ambient noise of the caves. If this connected to any other tunnels then it would be of some worry... but it doesn't.

On the other hand, we don't have much reason to go in there... aside from it being a possible chokepoint and cover if we get found before we decide to leave.

Altogether I don't see a big difference between the two choices. Each have slight advantages and disadvantages. Leaving the wall intact means we make less noise (just in case there are hunters in nearby tunnels that could triangulate the sound) but we're exposed if we get found. Breaking the wall increases the risk of being found, but we're in a better position to fight.

Hey, a thought occurs to me. Could we dismantle the wall in a manner that makes it possible to put back together? Like, if the mortar is so loose that we can just slide all the bricks apart, we could slide them back in once Viln is past. If the mortar isn't particularly loose, could we chip away at it without spending a huge amount of time doing so? That would mean any hunter popping their head out of the water would go "Nope, no giant Voklit in the cave and that entrance is too small for him, so they must not be here." That would be the BEST OPTION.
>>
No. 502805 ID: c8a283

use your head like they did in Toy Story 2.
>>
No. 502808 ID: 78e3e7

>>502801
yeah I like this option if we can put the wall back together, if we can't would it be possible to just hide the bricks away to make it look like it broke a long time ago or something, or at least just break enough so viln can crawl through rather then needing to just walk?

for now tho I think this could be the better route, even tho we got told theres nothing really inside a structure could be much more easy for us to navigate through then the tunnels and possibly give us better chances for ambush positions if/when we do run into trouble
>>
No. 502810 ID: f96bde

Be careful when trying to make an entrance. Avoid dropping bits of stone if at all possible - it's conceivable they have seismic monitors.
>>
No. 502811 ID: d6ef5d

Jeez. An awkward schoolyard social taboo about shaking yourself dry.

>entrance, too small
I would note that entrance is Polo height. Viln isn't the only one who would have difficulty getting in. Although I suppose the bigger neumono might be able to crawl in. Viln would still be too wide for the entrance even if he tried, though.

Expanding the door doesn't make us any easier to discover than not. If we leave the door as is and camp here, (or even came and went with Viln stuck on one side), we're discovered as soon as an enemy comes up the underwater entrance. If we're all on the other side of the door, we get another minute or so before we're discovered (unless the scout doesn't investigate the door).

So I see no issue in expanding the entrance, especially if we can make it look like a natural collapse.

>big list o' questions!
If we've finally reached a safe area, it's time to get as much info as we can out of Niam (and so he can bring Korli up to speed on things she's out of date on). Things to talk about:

Does he know how far beyond the hunter hive the salikai may have compromised? Or how far in advance they got to them?

Why isn't he bugged? After seeing what they did to the hunters, I kind of expected to find the science hive completely infested as a control mechanism to prevent, well, exactly this. And for that matter, how did he manage to slip away? You'd think they'd be more on guard for that now, and they had searchers throughout the cave.

Does he know what happened to Biles? Presumably, if he's not dead, he's under Salikai control.

What can he tell us about the new generation of bugs? We know four stripes is integrated into them- but how dependent are they on that? (For instance, what happens to the infested if he's killed? Are they freed, or is the control just messier?). Where are they keeping him?

Location of and intel on the salikai base. And any maps of the caves or base, if he's got them.

How the gas distribution works. Korli was speculating before, but he should have better information on what's pumping it, where, and how hard it is to produce and keep that up.

Whatever he knows about the brain darts.

The interpersonal / political situation between the salikai. If one of them's gone insane with Polo-torture lust, maybe we can play the divisions against the others. Playing them against one annother kept us alive before.

What's the deal with the voklit? Does he know what happened to the village when the Salikai searched the surface? Or what's with all the gun toting ones they have working for them?

...is there anything we don't know about yet that we should? Another horrible science project in the works they haven't sprung on us yet? Evil clones, neo-jetalium, a planetary death ray, a time machine? Anything?

>other stuff
Of concern is setting up camp and seeing to everyone in need of medical care and/or rest.

That includes finishing Rokann's surgery as soon as is reasonable, and having Katzati dig through stolen map data as soon as she feels up to it.

Then, assuming we haven't been discovered yet, we begin planning our next move.
>>
No. 502813 ID: 450660

>>502799

Best to work in the vertical. Hit the apex of the arch and a good portion should fall in once the stress shifts. Sideways may compromise load bearing portions.
>>
No. 502828 ID: 9ddf68

I think we should just set up a quick camp right outside the wall just to let every catch there breaths, I mean they have been holding it for how long?

Well they recover talk to Naim about anything you can think of to help us get an upper hand on the Salikai and maybe how are they doing certain things, like bug an entire hive, where do they get the resources to afford all of there weapons, gas, and technology without anyone noticing, and earlier Naim said something about how this Salikai want's use alive, does that mean there is only one Salikai, and if so where are the others?

Once we're done talking take whoever looks the least drained and can fit into the wall entrance explore it a bit before you start knocking walls down, mostly because I'm not entirely sure that there isn't some deadly animal or something in there and seeing how our little group is already starting to fall apart I think we should try and limit stress on them as much as possible.
>>
No. 502829 ID: b33427

It'd be for the best if there's no obvious sign that we've come out here for anyone who comes out of the water, so Viln is going to have to get out of sight.

The best choice would be to take the wall apart enough that Viln can squeeze through, then put the wall back, but that's probably not going to happen, even with Viln, Marra, and the rest of the group working together. That means busting the wall open. In that case, the best option is to find a weak area of the wall, preferably the doorway so we don't have more than one opening in, and start working the stonework back and forth. We want to make it look like it collapsed on its own.

Once everyone is in, set up watch rotations for the entrances, and to listen for anything coming out of the water. You'll go first, since everyone else is exhausted. Viln too, if he's not starting to tire out.

Also, unfortunately, the extraction of Rokann's bugs should immediately continue once everyone is settled in. It's going to be hard, but the sooner those things are out of her, the sooner she can get back to not being a liability to the group. Also ask Niam if he knows anything that'd help remove these bugs with greater ease.

>>502811
To add to the wall of questions for Niam: What kind of radio jamming units were the salikai using earlier? Are they man/neumono portable units? Does he know where they are? 'Cause if we could get one of those, it might be able to be tweaked to disrupt the empathic relay's radio connection. Possibly disrupt the mind-bug's short and long range communication as well. Then we might be able to capture and de-bug a member of the Hunter Hive to get intel, and another ally.

How much does the salikai's CAI like working for the salikai? Is it loyal to the salikai, and if it isn't very loyal, how do the salikai keep it in check? What control do they have over it?

Also, don't forget to share everything that has happened to you and group and what you know with Niam to bring him up to speed.
>>
No. 502834 ID: c4e5c2
File 136467913038.png - (60.22KB , 700x700 , 234.png )
502834

"Viln, others, see if you can just take the wall apart and put it back together. Otherwise, just take it down and try to make it look like it naturally fell. Question time, Niam. What have the salikai been using to jam radios?"
>"Small ones that can be moved easily, but one does not do much on its own. There are simply a hunred of them put intermittently in the trees all over the forest."
"Do you know what happened to Biles?"
>"He escaped. I do not know how he got rid of the bugs by himself, it should not be possible, and I do not believe that the bugs placed in him were defective. Nevertheless, he has also evaded recapture."
"Good. Why aren't you bugged?"
>"Because it may cause complications involving the experiment I am in. I am not the real Niam. I am one of the first successful neumono clones."
"... why is it that things that haven't been invented by enormous research labs have been invented by a small science hive and a few salikai?"
>"We do have a CAI as well that does have science minded AIs. Otherwise, it speaks well of us and poor of the researchers above ground."
"How far beyond the hunter hive have the salikai managed to compromise?"
>"From a flat number, not many. Around 1,000. From an influence point, heavily. Those 1,000 are in the upper echelon of the ultrahive. Not yours, but the one that sent you here. Once we learned you were alive, you were sent down here in hopes to capture you. The admiral, for instance, was compromised by the time you met him, if I am correct. Nevertheless, our systems and logistics are as sketchy as ever. Such is how I was able to escape, the guard back at home is nothing but a skeleton crew. Even the arkots are skimming the bottom levels. I am sure that other science hivemates have had the chance to escape, but ever since Korli left, the Salikai has promised that if any new hivemate abandoned the salikai, the remainder of the hive would be punished. In what have may been an oversight, I do not believe that stipulation extended towards clones, as while I have proper empathy, I am not considered part of the hive itself."
"What other clones have been made?"
>"That is only known by the salikai and our two specialist biotechnicians. Needless to say, despite the high cost to grow a clone, I am certain there are clones being made."
"I want to have the maps you have, and the location of the salikai base."
>"I will give them to you."
"Give them to Katzati. What do you know about the brain darts?"
>"How they work is also only known by the biotechnicians. What they do is effectively a hyper regenerative. It attempts to transform a foreign neumono, that is, the one injected, into the neumono whos brain matter was in the tube. Success is limited, as the brain matter is insane to begin with, something is wrong with it, but it was the only copy of brain matter we have that is strong enough to both live and do anything once injected. I do not know what neumono the original brain matter is from, but either the injected neumono turns into him, gets corrupted regeneration and ends up mutated and disfigured, or nothing at all. If one of you was injected, then if it was going to do anything, symptoms would have shown up by now."
"If Vanski is so obsessed about me, is it possible to play divisions of the other salikai against each other?"
>"Others? It is only Vanski and Ohidi, now. Sigira, Kiiu and Rosotski were all killed by Rokoa. But for Ohidi, it is possible, yet improbable. Ohidi has shown nothing but loyalty to his father and our leader Vanski, and although Ohidi does disapprove of the obsession with you, he expresses such things with great tact. Vanski kept his composure for a week after Rokoa killed the others before their deaths finally seemed to hit him. He wants revenge on Rokoa most of all, but she is gone and out of reach, so you are what he has to settle for."
"And about the Voklit. How did the salikai get them to start toting guns bigger than me around?"
"I do not know when it started, but all I know is it was a slow procedure. Months of poking around seeing what the voklit were like before any move was made, and eventually only getting one or two at a time on our side. We targeted the cave voklit since they were the ones already breaching galactic neumono contract anyways. Once he had enough, we were able to hold influence over the forest voklit. Not much, but enough to get them to stay out of our way and not sell us out. I know that my details leave lots to speculate, but that is all I have, the science hive as a whole has had very little direct dealings with the voklit until it became time to make their guns."
"Does the CAI have loyalty to the salikai?"
>"Sort of. It would not take much to get them to turn coat, except that they will die without the salikai. They are an experimental CAI with an inbuilt anti-CAI safe measure, in which the CAI is plagued with a continually growing disease. It would eat the CAI from the inside out, but there is an algorithm that does not cure the disease, but it resets it back to its initial phase. It uses a backdoor to avoid being absorbed by the CAI's personalities themselves. Plainly, the CAI will die if the Salikai are not around to save it."
"How do the bugs work?"
>"A combination of empathy signatures and radiowaves. The salikai have worked out how to turn radiowaves into empathy and vice versa, which is how our predator can still control a neumono inside of an empathy jammer. The bugs attempt to work with empathy first, but if that fails, it will attempt to use radio waves to communicate. They have built in commands that are still active even if both empathic and radio jammers are around, they simply will not be able to have new commands inputted via predator. This includes protecting the bugs from removal even moreso than ones own flesh, among other simple commands. Unless I am wrong and there are defective models, then Biles has found a way to circumvent this."
>>
No. 502836 ID: fb528f

Check on Viln's progress with the arch. Biles sounds very useful if he managed to find a away to circumvent the bugs but given the redundancy of the bugs can Niam confirm that Biles got away on his own without guidance?

What kind of logistics problems are keeping the Salikai from infecting more than just the leadership of the ultrahive?
>>
No. 502839 ID: d6ef5d

>Biles escaped
You go, Mr. crazy survivalist! Glad there's hope we won't have to shoot you when we next see you (unless you drove yourself crazy in the process of breaking free or something). And gives me hope for Polo's own chances at possibly resiting mind control if it comes to that. Not that we want to have to test that.

>Niam is a clone
>not considered part of the hive itself
...does Korli know? In any event, make it clear we don't think any less of him for being a clone, and we're glad to have his help.

Speaking of his help, did he have a plan past helping us evade being captured this time around? His stunt has bought us time, but that's it.

>I am certain there are clones being made.
Called it!

Polo, be prepared for the possibility of running into your own clone, or Rokoa's. And for having to kill them if it comes to that. Anyone who was in the previous salikai facility might have left behind enough genetic material for it- you lost an ear, Rokoa was in their hospitals, and Korli used to live there (I suppose Rikek and Rakae are possible too, but the salikai would have less material to work with, and clones of them are less of a threat). Go ahead and institute password systems with the group- so the group can't be infiltrated by a look alike you or Korli in the future.

Nothing personal Niam, but are there any obvious tells that someone is a clone? Does the process leave a marker of some kind if you know where to look? (Say, a lack of a bellybutton or something. ...not that I would know if neumono have those to begin with).

>brain darts are crazy conversion ammo
...jeeze, I wonder who we know who's crazy and has a will to survive that strong. You really can't escape her. And while it's no spit-bullets, drain-darts are pretty close. No surprise, here.

How long would a dart have to be in to be effective? The biggest flaw seems to me is it relies on the enemy not pulling the dart free almost instantly.

>Key people in the non-Polo ultrahive compromised by bugs
Well, that certainly makes calling for backup a problem. Should have shot that admiral after all, I suppose.

Is there a central control for the bugs that can be sabotaged or destroyed? Or are the infected fully autonomous?

>CAI plagued with a disease that forces it to reset over and over
*cough* UnSe *cough*

Assuming we freed the science hive and the CAI, wouldn't it be possible for the science hivers to reserve engineer whatever cure the Salikai has been using? Or just disable the safety in some way?
>>
No. 502844 ID: f2c20c

>>502834
Here's a theory on how Biles got rid of the bugs: he resisted them via willpower and corralled them somehow into one limb, which he then cut off. Or maybe he just has some freaky survivalist trick like a special type of poison or... Come to think of it, aren't nanobots and small machines really vulnerable to high temperature? Maybe the easiest way to get rid of them is to set yourself on fire, or otherwise overheat. Or maybe he just had an electrical prod or something like that, which he could use to shock the bugs to death.

It sounds like if we want backup, we'll need to contact our own ultrahive, and tell them about the bugs and... well, everything. Actually, Biles may be trying to do that himself. He's certainly in the best position to do so at the moment, since we're distracting the Salikai forces. Maybe we can get through this without even assaulting the Salikai base?

That would be boring.
>>
No. 502850 ID: b93170

Ok then we now have actual goals.

We now need to find four strips and kill/disable him to cripple the mind control thing, get evadince of corrupted hives to further cripple any plans they have, and maybe see if we can't get the CIA on our side since that would most likely have all the information we need and give us a step by step details of their plans now and future
>>
No. 502859 ID: d6ef5d

Oh, hey, we should also ask him what's with the monocle-goggle. That's kind of unusual. It do something, or is it some kind of implant?

>protecting the bugs from removal even moreso than ones own flesh
>then Biles has found a way to circumvent this
If the bugs protect themselves by hijacking one's own self preservation versus self-mutilation instinct, that may not work if the person in question has no problems mutilating themselves. Biles already told us he used to make clothes from his own skin, remember? With his training, he's probably learned to set aside all kinds of basic hardwired instincts in favor of conscious survival decisions. He's kind of the perfect person to resist that kind of control.

>so the group can't be infiltrated by a look alike Polo or Korli in the future
...or a Niam look alike. Conceivably, they made more than one of him, or they could send his original out to infiltrate and replace.

We might want to just ask if he knows how much material is needed to start a clone. Could cut down on our level of paranoia if we knew.

>hive stuff
Hey Polo, what were the hive lines again, anyways? Is everyone besides you and the science hivers from the compromised ultra-hive? Or was that just Lucerra and the others are loaners as well? None of the rest of the inspection team are proper hivemates, right?
>>
No. 502866 ID: b33427

With the salikai's base running on a skeleton crew, now would seem to be the best time to attack. Better ask about what forces are guarding it right now, what kind of fixed defenses such as turrets are there, and where its power source is.

Backup plan would be getting a communication link out of here and contacting someone lower down in Polo's hive who'd have the tools to check for bugs, then anyone and everyone else we can think of that'd be low down enough to not be bugged and can check for bugs; Especially non-neumono.

Also ask Niam if the salikai have a dead man's switch "fuck everybody else" plan in place if either or both of Vanski and Ohidi are killed. Do they have something like a base self-destruct tied to them, or would an order go up to the command of that ultrahive to launch everything they have at every other hive on the planet? That'd be real bad if they have nukes.

>Mind-bugs
Ask how the bugs authenticate orders they receive are legit. Do they all have Four Stripes' empathic pattern stored in them to compare to, do they use a separate encryption key, something else, or a combination of the above? How hard would it be to give them false orders, either over empathic link or by radio?

Is there any way to disrupt the bugs, either permanently or temporarily? Any way to jam their radio connection?

Also ask how much visual and aural information the bugs can send back up the relay, and how clear it is. We'd like to know if we can take Rokann's blindfold off and earplugs out.

>Biles
Perhaps he could resist and remove the bugs 'cause he has no problem with cutting himself to pieces, and has enough willpower to keep his focus through it. Maybe enough willpower that he could even back-connect to the bugs and order them to move into an extremity to be cut off. No way to know without finding him, and unless he went underground that's highly unlikely. Still, ask where he as last seen by the salikai's forces.

>Clones
Ask Naim how long it takes to make a neumono clone, how much original tissue is needed, and how much, if any, of the source neumono's memories are carried over. Does he have some or all of the original Naim's memories, or were his knowledge and memories created and implanted?

Most importantly, ask if they've successfully cloned a neumono predator, or are close to doing so. 'Cause if they have, then killing Four Stripes might not put as big a wrench in their plans as we'd hoped to, and if they're near to succeeding then it's all the more reason to stop them now.

And as far as you're concerned, you don't have much of a problem with him personally for being a clone; It's more unexpected than anything else. It's the implications of there being neumono clones that is worrying you. Korli, on the other hand, might have issues with him specifically. She should still be told so she can make her own decision, though.

>Voklits
Once Viln's free, get him over here, lay out what Niam said about the voklits, and ask if we encounter any forest voklits what it would take to convince them to turn against the salikai's forces and come fight at our side. Not all of them; Just a few, or one.

Better bring everyone up to speed on what Niam said once the work with the wall is done. It's going to upset them to a degree, but trying to keep it hidden is likely to bite you in the tail later on. You can deal with any potential freak outs here and now, where it's relatively safe.
>>
No. 502872 ID: 57a559

SO the bugs are immune to EMP weaponry I take it? Are they capable of destroying the host their in?
>>
No. 502881 ID: f2c20c

Perhaps we should explain how we've been debugging Rokann, and if he knows of any specifics on what we should be careful of with her.
>>
No. 502925 ID: da61c0

wait, you're telling me they had access to our direct command? they could have sent us anywhere, with anyone, under any conditions?
why didn't they send us with other compromised people? with they hunt hive for instance. they could have overpowered us before we knew what was going on.
why didn't they send us to a trap instead of to their head of operations? they could have set anything up anywhere and transported us here after we are subdued.
why didn't they give us a faulty parachute?
why didn't they order us to go without weapons to "respect the volkit" or something?
why didn't they send us alone?
why didn't they inject us with the bots as a "vaccine"
why even tell us we're going to look for the salikai? we would have been less suspicious if they only told us it was a routine escort mission.

too many holes. the only options that explain all of them fully are:
1. the salikai fucked up. they were either dumb and incompetent or they seriously misjudged you, even after the whole mess we proved we could do.
2. Niam is a spy and is making us wait in a place with no good escapes while telling us lies that will make us not attempt to leave to the surface, trust the compromised Biles, not attempt to mess with the bugs and generally stay put until help arrives to take us in.
and 3. Lagotrope didn't think this through..

personally, i am leaning towards 2.
>>
No. 502928 ID: d6ef5d

Oh, and adding to the list of questions- we didn't ask about the gas. How they're distributing it, or low long they can keep up it up.

>>502925
The answer to some of those questions is because Vanski wants Polo alive. And because the Salikai have never been very good at this kind strategic planning (we've got countless examples of glaring flaws in their past plans and strategies), and and a grief driven insane obsession can't be helping.

And if even if this cave is a trap (which I doubt) it's not as if it makes our situation any worse than it was. Our only options were to run or hole up somewhere, and we were starting to run low on ammunition, and we had injured people, tired people, and bad moral. We couldn't keep that up. We would have been caught, cornered, and overrun within hours at most. A chance at a reprieve is better than what was slow, inevitable failure.

And I didn't read anything about having to stay put or ignore the bugs. Yes, we're hiding for the moment, but that hardly precludes taking future action (in fact, our survival will likely depend on it. If we take no action and stay in one place indefinitely, we will eventually be found). And as for Biles, we'll see what state he is in when we find him. Obviously he gets scanned for bugs, and we have to be wary he didn't drive himself insane breaking mind control or something. And we have to be careful that he may be hostile because he thinks we're compromised.
>>
No. 502935 ID: da61c0

>>502928
another question: where are the salikai and what is their defenses?
Polo, please check and see what the escape options are for this place. if there are none then you finish a quick rest break and hightail it out of there or else when the enemy shows up you'll have to fight through their whole army.
>>
No. 502938 ID: c4e5c2
File 136475169185.png - (18.07KB , 700x700 , 235.png )
502938

>Who was in what hive/ultrahive again?
Korli and I are in the same ultrahive now, and the science hive will likely be in the same ultrahive if they are rescued. This mission was arranged from another ultrahive, of which every other neumono around me belongs. Every single one of us are from a different normal hive, however.

"So the admiral was bugged. That doesn't sit well with me, not just because he's bugged, but the salikai had me. They could've given me a faulty parachute, sent me alone, sent me without weapons, sent me with other compromised people, and a good number of other issues. A lot of holes come with that news."
>"That is true, except they would not give you a faulty parachute or otherwise deal with you while on the ship. First of all, the salikai have been exceedingly careful in their bugging. It would only take one neumono to be found with bugs to have everything fall apart. If you were killed because of a 'faulty parachute', I am sure such a death would be cause for investigation. Moreso, Vanski has, many times, said death is too good for you. Of course, he says that about all of the neumono. He knows his days are numbered, but still, he is not after the death of all neumono. He wants to 'teach everyone a lesson'. I believe he wants our species to experience what it is like to be a salikai after alien contact. Constantly hunted and killed, I suppose. While he is obsessed with you, perhaps he was not willing to sacrifice everything else he has just to get you after all. He may not have thought capturing you then and there would be worth the risk involved in the admiral performing overt actions, and so chose to be on the side of caution. I do not know, and I am dangerously close to forming wild, unfound speculations. But you are correct, no matter how complicated the scenario may have been, they had the opportunity to have you captured or killed, yet did not take that chance."
"I am also willing to believe the salikai are just completely incompetent at such planning." Though I am aware of the dangers of underestimating my opponent. "Korli. Does it bug you he's a clone?"
>"Uh... it's weird and I don't know if I should feel like we're buds still or if he should be new? Still the same guy, though. Hey, clone-Niam, do you have all his memories and stuff?"
>"To a degree. They are weaker. I remembered you, and other things common in Niam's life. It is all rusty, though. Topics that were on the fringe such as old phone numbers Niam would know I have forgotten and unable to reconstruct."
"Are there any definite signs between clones and originals?"
"No. We have only managed cloning a constant copy, and the only differences are unintentional. Some are tagged on the ear with a barcode label, but nothing involving their physical body."
"What are those monogoggles you have?"
>"The cloning is not perfect, at least it was not with me. I have poor eyesight. It is an external implant."
"How long does it take, and how much tissue is needed?"
>"We condense a good deal of tissue over time to a relatively small volume, and proceed to give it brainless neumono flesh to mold around, to put it in near offensively simple terms. Hence is why I have many memories, but they are weak. It takes approximately one month of intense care and supervision."
"... can they clone predators?"
>"Not to my awareness, but cloning most species has been accomplished, and now neumono. I would not expect predators have many hidden mysteries about them anymore."
"Are the bugs capable of destroying their host?"
>"Yes, they can drive a neumono permanently insane in approximately 37 seconds on average, or 46 seconds to braindeath."
"Do the salikai have a deadman switch or other sort of trigger to attempt maximum damage?"
>"Likely."
"Is there a way to disrupt the bugs at all? We are removing them from Rokann manually."
>"Jammers of radio and empathy will block outward communication, but there is no particular way I am aware of to disrupt them internally. They are highly EMP resistant, though perhaps not perfectly so. What you are doing with Rokann I would recommend continuing to do."
"Can they send visual or aural information through radio?"
>"Yes, although it is not often clear. The bugs do not act like a camera, rather, they intercept the signals that the eyes send to the brain to process, which often complicates trying to communicate that through radio.
"Tell me about the gas, and how they are distributing it."
>"They've installed pipes sporadically around, I do not know the locations of them. There is not much difference, conceptually, between the new gas and the gas we put on Rokoa's ship. It is only marginally stronger, in fact, but it is far cheaper and faster to make now once we made a few substitutes. It is still finite, but I doubt they will run out soon."
"How much of that brain matter in a dart has to be injected to do much?"
>"Just a portion. It is hard to say how much. Your ally may have been fine without slicing off her ear, or she may not have been fine."
"What is guarding the salikai's base now, and where is it?"
>"I will upload the location on your map systems I overheard one of you said you had. Many of the arkots, I imagine some clones, voklits, vernauts where they will fit, and grottles in whatever ducts are installed are the primary source of defenses at the moment. Essentially speaking, people and things that Vanski and Ohidi would like to put to good use, yet not let out of their sight. Due to technical issues we have had, stationary turrets are, to my awareness, out of order.
"When you work with Katzati, please include any possible escape routes. Give me a moment's break."
>>
No. 502939 ID: c4e5c2
File 136475170549.png - (21.77KB , 700x700 , 236.png )
502939

"Hello, Viln."
>"Polo."
"What would it take to get forest voklit to fight with us against the salikai?"
>"To assist neumono in neumono wars? Would have to move the mountain."
"Even if it were just a couple of Voklits?"
>"Voklit do not change sides so..." He pauses, I presume thinking about the fact that he was not aware there were so many voklit working for the salikai either. He stares for a few moments at his gun. "Viln does not know what the beliefs are, today."

I'll leave him to removing the wall. The mortar is loose after all, so it should be possible to take down the wall and put it back together later. At least the ceiling is tall enough for him.
>>
No. 502940 ID: c4e5c2
File 136475172273.png - (51.50KB , 700x700 , 237.png )
502940

I head inside where most of us now are, setting up camp.

"Katzati. Are you okay to work?" She looks to her right, first, thinking I am over there. It looks like she still cannot hear out of her left ear.
>"Yeah... I'm looking at what we have. It looks like they tried deleting the files on death, but it didn't get far. Most of it's there, just... well, it's corrupted, but I think Korli can help with recovering the map data. I'll work with Niam too to get the salikai base and all that stuff. Maybe he'll have a way out, too."
"I'll send him in, but first, I have one more question I almost hope he doesn't have the answer to."
>>
No. 502941 ID: c4e5c2
File 136475196132.png - (11.84KB , 700x700 , 238.png )
502941

"Alright, Niam. You said you don't know who the brain matter is from, but have you seen any transformations?"
>"Yes, there have been two tested transformations with success. They are expensive to make, but I do imagine they sent a stalker after you with the dart to test it in combat."
"Describe what they turned into."
>"I did not see the final effect, or I do not remember, but the first signs of differences were that the skin turned black and the fur a light gray with a slight blue saturation. A snow neumono. Oh, it was my memory, yes. Rokoa. Now I remember. I am sorry, does her being cloned bother you?" he asks. I must have made some sign of discomfort, to make a gross understatement.
"... does it bother me?"
>"She may remember you, as it may prove too difficult to isolate and remove exact memories. You two were allies, were you not? Now that I remember this, I am uncertain why Vanski would want, or think it a good idea, to copy her of all people."
"I don't want to talk about that. Do the Rokoa copies turn out as strong as the original?"
>"Close. It uses similar concepts as cloning, so there may be certain issues, but I, for example, am approximately just as physically strong as the original Niam."
>>
No. 502942 ID: 76b151

Ah fuck. Rokoa clones... and with our luck they'll all want rematches.
>>
No. 502944 ID: 9ddf68

... oh shit

ask him how many do they have and if he doesn't know tell him to ball park it. This might be a good thing as like Naim said you two were kinda friends so you might be able to get them on your side, but at the same time this is Rokoa we're talking about and she has a very good track record of not doing what other want her to do. Also ask Naim if the Rokoa clones would be more likely to be in the tunnels hunting us down or do they fall under the 'like to keep a close eye on' category and would most likely to be at the salikai base.
>>
No. 502947 ID: d6ef5d

>Rokoa clones!
Well. Looks like you're getting to that next rematch sooner than expected.

Niam- how the hell are they controlling the copies? She was already insane and nearly uncontrollable before. A predator could barely get her to stop killing- but it couldn't get her pacified or controlled. You have serious doubts as to how effectively a Rokoa driven fully insane by the dart cloning process could be controlled, even by the bugs.

Now, there are obviously downsides to the enemy being able to deploy multiple Rokoa clones. There are some potential advantages though. If they ever lose control of any of them, that's pretty good for us. And if any of them are actually sane, or have the right memories, it's possible they can be turned.

Plus, hey, you'll get to shoot her again. (...real fucking pity we're out of explosive shotgun ammo, though).

...what happened to Marra's ear? Did you get a Rokoa ear blanket to cuddle after all?

>Other stuff
Rokoa clones are obviously the worst case, but don't overlook the possible risk of the group being compromised by other look-alikes. There's Niam's original (and the possibility he wasn't the only clone), and both you and Korli were in the Salikai base long enough they might have had the material to clone you. Set up call and response passwords to guard against this.

In the meantime, we need to do camp stuff. Tend to the injured, work on Rokann, tend to the gear, tally how much food we have, set up a rotation watching the entrance, and let people rest and recover.

After the group is rested up, Rokann is clean, and we have maps, we can start planning the next move.
>>
No. 502948 ID: 57a559

Many would probably have acceptable feelings of shock and fear after this revelation, and they probably should.
But I think now we should get a little hyped.

This is going to get fun, fast.
>>
No. 502956 ID: fb528f

I wonder if Rokoa's brain tissue is insane enough to override the bugs...
>>
No. 502962 ID: da61c0

>>502941
so there is more than one rokoa.
ARE THEY STUPID!? HOW IS THEIR BASE STILL INTACT!?
>>
No. 502965 ID: 7e6e35

At the very least, it seems that although they can make clones, the very process itself makes those clones' loyalties very suspect, especially if they're cloning people who weren't their servants to begin with. On the other hand, the different method with the Rokoa clones probably leaves them with less memories and more different from her than the normal clones are. And they can still just bug the clones.

... So, Rokoa's neural matter is particularly hardy and virulent! That might explain... some things. You need to be careful next time you snack on her limbs.

Anyway. If the regular clones preserve the original's memories and empathy, then chances are that they have cloned you, Polo, to get clones that have your ability. However, they probably can't bug them, because the bugs release empathy when they try to control their host, which would ruin the stealth. So if you do run into them (most likely they've been confined for study, if they exist, unless the Salikai are REALLY dumb), then they'll probably not be too hard to persuade to help you. If the salikai are the smarter kind of dumb they'll have bombs in their brains or something, but it's something to keep in mind.

You should ask how the clone's loyalties are supposed to be enforced. Perhaps for the science hive clones, that's not an issue, but any other seem like they would have to be bugged, confined or killed. You should also ask Korli and Niiam what the chances are that the salikai or clone team have had you cloned, if they had opportunity.
>>
No. 502971 ID: b33427

Well, this is an unwelcome development, but by now unwelcome developments are regular occurrence for you. This one is just a little more so than usual.

Since the brain matter used for the Rokoa transformation was almost certainly taken from before your duel with the real Rokoa, whatever memories it would have of you are not going to help you sway the Rokoa clones in any way. So don't expect any sudden changes in sides on their part.

Thankfully it sounds like the neumono cloning process requires extraction of a fair bit of brain tissue from the original neumono, so you don't have to worry about clone yous showing up since the salikai didn't get such a sample from you. Now, Korli, on the other hand, might have a clone or be able to be cloned if they had a sample from before she ran. Better ask her if she remembers having such a sample taken.

Vanski might not have had a choice in using Rokoa's neural matter for the brain-darts if hers was the only one sample that could survive the process and still be potent, or hers was the most effective by a wide margin. Or he might have chosen her so he could enjoy bending her clones to his will, and having control over them. But this is just speculation, and we don't really have a reason to find out, unless getting into Vanski's head would help us decide what to do.

Niam didn't mention the giant neumono as being in the base defense, unless they were in with the clones. Are they all out in the search parties? How many of them are there down here, anyway?

>Voklits changing sides or not
It would be hard to get the forest voklit on our side against the salikai, so what would it take for them to turn against just the cave voklit that allied with the salikai? Or to not even fight on any side and just flee into the forest and caves for the duration?

>Salikais' deadman's switch
In whatever plans we do make, before making a final move on the salikai we're going to have to find out if they have one of these setup, what it does, and how to disable or counter it. 'Cause if it includes a base self-destruct nuke, that'd be nice to know about beforehand.
>>
No. 502978 ID: 7e6e35

>>502971
>the brain matter used for the Rokoa transformation was almost certainly taken from before your duel with the real Rokoa
>you don't have to worry about clone yous showing up since the salikai didn't get such a sample from you

They could have gotten large samples from either of them shortly before or during the initial stages of the communal hallucination, I think.
>>
No. 502980 ID: d6ef5d

I'm not sure trying to persuade the voklit to change sides is the way to think about it. They take their honor and personal loyalties very seriously. Viln only took up a gun because he sees his people as being enslaved now- worse than the reservation situation the neumono forced upon them. He's fighting so his people and their way of life (or even the memory of that way of life) can survive. The salikai have likely played off something similar- convincing voklit to set aside their ways and serve them in promise of some kind of better life, or some kind of revenge against the neumono who have oppressed them.

Perhaps the more pertinent question is what will happen to them if we successfully defeat the salikai.

>>502978
Unlikely. I got the impression the surviving salikai troops went right for the bridge as soon as the gas kicked in for their nuclear endgame. If they had the chance to take samples from Polo and Rokoa while they were snoozing in the brig, they would have likely have taken the opportunity to kill them as well (in the comm conversation we overheard at the end they were lamenting they had not had the chance to do that).

The most likely source of the Rokoa material would be during her stay in their hospital facility.

But depending on how they're controlled, what they remember, and how sane they are, we might be able to get through to the clones, regardless. Rokoa is the sort who might honor the results of a duel she doesn't remember if she truly believes it took place. And she's hated the Red Queen for decades, if not years. And she's grown used to coping with memory loss from traumatic injury before.

The problem is if the copies are too controlled, too insane, or too different from the person Polo knew to do anything with. (Which is possible- Polo didn't recognize the dart by empathic signature, for one).
>>
No. 502982 ID: f2c20c

>>502941
Niam has been an amazing source of information for us. You know what they say, knowledge is power. He may have just turned the tide for us. Ask him if he has any requests in exchange for all this help.
>>
No. 502995 ID: c4e5c2
File 136478106474.png - (12.63KB , 700x700 , 239.png )
502995

"Niam, how are they controlling, or attempting to control her, and why is their base still intact. She was supposedly under a predator's control but apparently was not."
>"Keep in mind that that was for a few hours from an untrained predator. I am certain that brain matter has been indoctrinated extensively through four stripes and every other means we have. That is not to say I claim that Vanski has succeeded beyond doubt, merely that Rokoa resisting what she did around you means little comparatively."
"Unrelatedly, is it possible for her brain matter to infect people by eating her flesh?"
>"Typically it goes through the digestive system and brain matter does not get absorbed into the eaters brain. But, if there is any neumono brain matter that would get through, I suppose it would be that."

In recent months, ever since my last mission, I have still had a disconcerting number of thoughts involving Rokoa, and the occasional dream in which... well, they are not solid, but they are too Rokoa-like than I would like, as vague as it is. I have been thinking, or at least telling myself, that it was merely because of her external influence getting to me, not because of what I ate. I will alert everyone to be on the watch for clones.

>"I doubt you will fight yourself, as I do not believe they got enough sample from you to make a clone, at least not a good one. But, you are aware that if they are able to indoctrinate Rokoa, then it is probable you will have to fight her? You will have to prepare to fight her if you wish to pursue the salikai."
"Yes, Niam, thank you, I am very much aware of that, but I do not need to 'prepare' to kill Rokoa. She is a disease, and the salikai are trying to spread it. How many Rokoas are there?"
>"At least two. I am certain that if Vanski is confident in her, then there are more."
"And the giant neumono. Are they in the search parties?"
>"I believe I left before I had a chance to learn where they were or were not going."
"In any case, you have been invaluable with this info, if it is remotely correct. Are you wanting anything in return?"
>"No."

>Where is Marra's ear?
I still have it. Aside from not quite being large enough to make a decent blanket, in light of recent events, I feel more inclined to burn it.
>>
No. 502997 ID: c4e5c2
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502997

I take the neumono sample, apparently of Rokoa, and wade out just outside of the jammer bubble.

It is weaker. Whatever keeps it alive does not seem to be transferrable to a tube. But is is still dying and it is still confused, both aspects which do not resemble Rokoa. That said, I would not say it is afraid or panicking, which I imagine would be the more natural response to waking up with absolutely no senses, only your own thoughts. Although neumono brain matter is exceptionally soft, I have not attributed it to being so malleable as to resemble a liquid. I almost feel bad for the shaking she has gone through, but I do not know how that would affect her.
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No. 502998 ID: c4e5c2
File 136478123285.png - (17.14KB , 700x700 , 241.png )
502998

Marra and Korli are busy debugging Rokann. Lucera is taking inventory. Kort is hiding under his blankets, Viln is finishing the deconstruction of the wall, and Katzati and Niam are working on the maps. There isn't much else I can think of to do to help much at this moment, so I rest for some time, keeping watch on the water before heading to check in on Katzati.

"How are things?"
>"I've got most of it." Katzati replies. "There's even exits! But..."
>"The nearest is 8 kilometers or so. There are several around. They are certain to be guarded, and even if we are able to push through them, the hunter hive still has personnel above ground with helicopters and such things, including wider range radio jammers." Niam explains. "Escape, or reporting to non-infected hives, is improbable by brute force. There is, however, one chance I can see, that may fit with our wishes. We wish to escape, you wish to enter the salikai base, I take it. I believe there are 3 primary radio links that branch out from the salikai's base. If they are taken out simultaneously via timed explosives, then they will temporarily lose connection with the outside world. It will not be for long, but it may be all we need to make a push outwards while the salikai are unable to converge all of their forces on us. I will tell you more if this sounds like something you wish to do, but this is a delicate logistical plan that has numerous chances for failure."
>>
No. 502999 ID: 9ddf68

yeah well you make this sound like this isn't our first suicide mission we've been on so unless we lack the bombs and/or timers I think that as good a plan as any.

As for the plan itself I guess Polo and any combat neumono & maybe viln if they feels up to it will go to the salikai base well the rest of the group heads toward an exit with at least one combat anyone (anyone who knows how to fight and WASN'T just here to write down maps or translate). Also group B's goal should be to make contact with the ultra hive and tell them of the infected hive and basically get the word out about the bugs and Group A's goal is to basically cause as much damage to the salikai base as possible and get as much info as possible. After that is said and done both groups job is then to get the hell out of here.
>>
No. 503001 ID: 57a559

Completing the objectives is going to be the easiest thing, keeping everyone alive is what's going to be hard.

I'm unsure if we should simply go solo for the infiltration bits to minimize casualties. Finding Biles should be a secondary priority, his knowledge of getting the bugs out will be detrimental. We can save a LOT of the hunter hive if we can understand his technique. It should be possible to make the CAI slightly suicidal, which means it could help out. Kill Four Stripes is obviously top of the list. Does the clone know where 4stripes would most likely be located?
>>
No. 503002 ID: d6ef5d

>I have still had a disconcerting number of thoughts involving Rokoa...
It's very unlikely you were affected by the Rokoa jerky. It was days dead and dried out before you even ate any. It's not going to affect you the same way those darts affect people. You had an unhealthy obsession with her before that, as well. Just... don't worry about that.

...I'm not sure what to do with the dart. I almost feel sorry for her. It? Suppress insane impulse to stab yourself with it. Part of me wants to mercy kill it, another to hold onto it. Maybe it would be useful against a Rokoa clone? Infect a 'controlled', trained, or brainwashed one with a cleaner sample, and suddenly it's forgotten all the salikai programming and conditioning?

>take out radio beacons with timed explosions
>allow others to make a push for the outside
A big problem I see with that is we lack timed explosives. We don't have C4 in inventory- only a single grenade. We'd have to procure on site- raid a salikai armory or something (You're also out of shotgun ammo and low on rifle ammo. Not exactly what you want when taking on Rokoas or worse). We also lack the ability to communicate with our allies at a distance- so we can't single when it's time to make a push. We'd be dependent on prearranged timing. A single hold up on our end and we're sending them to their deaths.

Also, presumably they're using the radio interruption to break past the guarded entrance, and then get clear before hunter hiver helicopters can arrive? That means they have to cross 8k of caves without being caught or delayed by any searchers as well. Or else, window missed, again.

I mean, Polo's all for infiltration and sabotage, even risking her life on almost certain death, but the odds of success on that look bleak.

Could we do anything to improve our chances? Could we pull the communication equipment from the hunter helmets? Those seemed to work underground, and through the salikai's jamming. If we got ourselves working comms, that cuts out one of the big problems (piggyback on the relays they set up down here?). That and/or the ability to listen to enemy communications would make Polo's breaking in and the others evading searchers as they move to the exit a lot easier.
>>
No. 503006 ID: 78c6ea

Huh, I just noticed a flaw in this whole setup.

Someone kill Four-stripes, and all the Rokoas go into an insane unstoppable rage. Then fall over.
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No. 503008 ID: fb528f

Blow up the radios without turning into Rokoa, sounds simple enough. Hold onto the dart. We may want to locate the cloning facility later on see if there's any convenient neumono tissue sitting around we can infect with Rokoa as a distraction.
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No. 503013 ID: eaa6fc

it's.... risky.... but due to the fact the brainmatter tries to assimilate, could it be used on non-neumono targets either lethally or enough to debilitate? basically "short out" a larger non-neumono target by say putting a limb out of action or hitting the chest & letting the matter try to assimilate the heart &/or lungs? naturally it won't turn whatever into a "rokoa" and probably ultimately reject it but the damage should be done if it works.
>>
No. 503014 ID: 76b151

I seriously doubt Rokoa's cells will know what to do with for example Arkot flesh. They aren't nanomachines.
>>
No. 503015 ID: d6ef5d

Guys, let's not all jump on this just because it's what was offered. We want to figure out a plan that works while we can.

An important question to consider is if we don't go with this plan, what are our alternatives? We've ditched pursuit for the moment, but eventually they will be back to search this area more carefully. We are on a timetable.

Another logistical constraint: how far is the base or infiltration point from where we are now? Polo will have to make it from here to there while evading patrols. And there's also the problem of the nearly undetectable cameras- they're sure to have them close to or in the base. How do we bypass them without being seen?

Finally, there's timing. How long do we wait before we attempt something like this? It would be nice if the wounded had sufficient time to recover, including Rokann to where she can fight with the others. Of course there's a tradeoff- the longer we wait to act, the sooner we may be discovered.

>Marra's ear
I think the intent of my question got lost in the blanket joke. Has the ear undergone a visible transformation at all? The color start to change?
>>
No. 503016 ID: d3bdc2

>>503006

Normally predators turn their mindslaves into vegetables, but for the rokoa clones to be most valuable they need to keep her memory and skills, and it was implied they'll keep at least some of those. Four stripes may have been trained to do things better, but it probably means they'll be a little more independent if he gets killed. In any case, they could possibly still be fixed if you got the original Rokoa and injected them with her.

It sounds like this plan could also be used as a cover for you, Polo, to slip into their base and kill Four Stripes, but at the same time, I wonder if the intent of the salikai is not to capture you and clone you so they can have their neumono hunters.

On the other hand, just plain getting out and getting help may cripple them for a while, but they likely have yet more fallback positions, and the time it takes to get help may be long enough for them to run away again. You should ask everyone what they think.
>>
No. 503031 ID: 78c6ea

>>503016

Even better! The attempts to carefully control them will fail and they'll go into an unstoppable rage spontaneously.

...how is their base still intact, again?
>>
No. 503215 ID: b33427

This plan practically menaces with points of failure, but compared to the alternative of evading the salikai's forces indefinitely it might be slightly better. Emphasis on "might." After all, the group has maps now, so evading the salikai's forces for a long time is a much better possibility than before.

Alright, you'll hear Niam's plan and decide if you'll act on it afterwards, but only if he can assure you of two things: That he's certain the salikai's base has no other way to communicate out once those three radio links are down; Not even an extremely slow way. And that the salikai have absolutely no place to escape to, because you're not going to put everyone here at risk if even if the plan succeeds the salikai can still slip away and hide.

The biggest question in this plan is how you're going to get into the salikai's base and plant the timed explosives without you or them being detected. There's undoubtedly loads of surveillance cameras all over their base, and AIs continually monitoring them. Second biggest question is where you're going to get the timed explosives. Somehow steal them from the salikai's base without being found out?

>>502998
Katz sure looks like she could use a hug and some reassurance right about now, so go over there and give her that. Half the group probably could use the same, so half-jokingly tell her that her duties now include giving hugs to keep morale up. Lord knows at least Kort could use a big hug and some comforting; He looked like he's about to have a nervous breakdown after going through all that water.
>>
No. 503266 ID: c4e5c2
File 136485190117.png - (14.58KB , 700x700 , 242.png )
503266

>Has marra's ear undergone any transformation?
No. Chances are it has minimal brain matter, if any, for Rokoa to hijack.

"I am skeptical, but let's hear it."

>"Alright. All radio links are lining this outer shell of Vanski's base. We were unable to place them inside, thankfully, due to required wavelengths performing poorly through our thick base walls. Therefore, you do not need to enter Vanksi's base itself. For this operation, we would all agree on one precise time of action. Let's say, arbitrarily, 10:00. At 10:00, everyone but you be at one exit that remains to be chosen, and push our way through. We would be found out if we simply hung by any exit far in advance, so we will attempt to procure any hiding place as close as possible so that we can arrive right at 10 AM with minimal chance of discovery.
>Likewise, explosives will be sitting timing down. More time spent doing this means more chance that they will be discovered. Therefore, it would also be best if you start as late as possible, but if anything holds you back, then you will not be able to lay them down in time. Another tradeoff. We will have no way to know this, and will charge at 10:00 regardless, having to place our faith in you. It is also imperative that you are not found at any location laying explosives. If any link is left intact, Vanski's whole web will still work. Fortunately, our camera systems are not omnipresent, in no small part due to Korli's hive's lack of motivation to do fine jobs. Plus, our wall cameras have certain looks. I will install them into your visor to automatically detect and point out any cameras. I am familiar enough with Katzati's software to perform this. In fact, I will be doing that regardless. Remember to use IR for any laser alarm systems. They detect minute, quick changes in heat.
>If you wish, you may decide on coming with us and simply lay explosives with enough time to come back to us. This will make any discovery of explosives being found prematurely heighten. Otherwise, you will just give yourself enough time to escape blast radius while we will escape, leaving you trapped inside once again. Once so, we will radio out as soon as we can, to any and every frequency you give us. I will tell everyone what I know."
"Problem. Where will we get timed explosives?"
>"That is problematic. I have two wrist watches. With several hours or, hopefully not, days, I may be able to work in some mechanisms to make timed explosives. If we have any explosives at all that I may dismantle, they do not need to be big. Otherwise, we will require salvaging explosives from Vanski's forces ahead of time."
"Can we not communicate using hunter helmets? They may have strong reception."
>"Unlikely. I am unable to hack into their radio system to use their own linkups, and linkups are what provides their helmet's working communication."
>>
No. 503293 ID: d6ef5d

>upgrade visor hud to detect and point out hidden cameras
That is like the best news we've had all day.

>making explosives
Not a bad idea, even if we end up scrapping this plan. Ultimately shit will need to be blown up. Problem is, all we've got is a grenade and our rapidly dwindling explosive ammo. Both of which are kind of hard to take apart, in short supply, and kind of needed for their original purpose. Hopefully Lucerra finds some more stuff in inventory to be used.

We're going to need another watch, though. We need three timed explosions, not two.

If it's going to take hours or days though, that's time we should use doing something else. Possibly stealing more supplies, scouting routes to be taken, or gathering food. If we're going to do this, we want to prepare as much as we can to tilt the odds in favor of success.

>choice between laying the bombs and running with everyone else, or hiding and holding out as long as you can while the others escape
...I think we know which Polo will choose. Not only does running early leave more time for the mines to be discovered, but the longer you're causing problems for the salikai, the less resources will be sent chasing after your allies.
>>
No. 503294 ID: 001618

ok we are going to need to raid an Amory or something if we want to get the explosives we need to pull this plan off and I think it would be best if we went to the base solo. Mostly because it's like Naim said, if we can get the word out to the hives about the bugs we can cripple a large part of the salikai's plans and even if this is the mission where polo bits the dust if we can get the news out we still win in the long run.
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No. 503313 ID: f2c20c

How many grenades did we loot?
>>
No. 503328 ID: c4e5c2
File 136486245332.png - (32.23KB , 700x700 , 243.png )
503328

"I will be staying inside, so explosive timers will be minimal. But the explosives we have will be needed for their original purpose. Is there an armory or some equivalent?"
>"Yes, inside of the base. There may be staging zones where supplies have been gathered. They are sure to be guarded anyways, and it is possible they move them frequently. I would recommend simply wandering the caves somewhere else and attempt to steal supplies from wandering patrols." says Niam.

>How many grenades did we loot?
None. I am also skeptical of Niam's idea for getting supplies due to the fact that they seem to be aware that when we withstand what they throw at us, we are better equipped for the next time. They have not carried much.

I will do more minor things around camp first, anyways. Namely, morale.

>Hug Katzati
Perhaps I should have simply gone for it, but I do not know how to go about hugging her form. It seems logistically awkward, she is sitting, and now she is staring at me.
>>
No. 503332 ID: 8b9215

Continue having an awkward silence.
>>
No. 503333 ID: 57a559

Just give her a thumbs up then.
It'll be an awkward thumbs up, but it'll be cute.
Or fist bump. But then you end up hanging for a few seconds while she understands which gesture your intending.

If you're broadcasting thoughts right now, I have no idea why you would, but please don't think of dubstep and her breasts at the same time above all else.

I don't like how prepared Niam is for this, like, he's perfectly balenced between perfect preparation to be too suspicious and not prepared enough. Not only that, but his plan leaves you quite vulnerable when it's time to escape. I think he'd betray us, for some godawful reason. Or maybe his ocular external implant might have one of those linkups he's talking about with the enemy. He might be a sleeper agent of some sort. He might not even do anything directly hostile, he just has a tracker and recorder on hand maybe he doesn't even know about.

He has perfect explanations for why he can abandon his hive beyond the fact that cloning is farfetched. He's a godsend in this constant flux of terrible shit being thrown at us otherwise. How did we catch this lucky break? Do not share your suspicions at all. Just please, while you enact any bits of the plan that you keep a close eye on him. And if you have ways of tracking these linkups, do so. Just tracking, find out where they are and where they go. But not what they send to each other. We'll be able to piece most of that out with logic without making ourselves vulnerable.
>>
No. 503351 ID: d6ef5d

>ambush patrol(s) for supplies
Well, it does have some downsides. Yes, the groups we've seen so far haven't been carrying much. But if you're not escorting the entire team when you go on a raid, it'll be easier to move quickly and sneaky. And hitting a patrol is actually something we know we can pull off- an armory raid is more doubtful.

Of course, the biggest problem with hitting patrols is it gives away your location- or at least where you're near. And you'll then have to evade the response teams that come running.

>paranoia
There's an opening right above you. Glance up- nothing in there, right?

>Korli's hive
The clones weren't considered a proper part of the hive, and his speech seems to indicate he doesn't think of himself as one either.

>I do not know how to go about hugging her form
Just go for putting a reassuring hand on her, I guess. Not much else you can manage from your current position, and it's a nice callback to your earlier encounter.

>>503333
I don't see much stock in assuming he's a double-agent. If they could have placed a traitor to intercept and mislead us, they could have placed a team to catch us. And his information is hardly too good to be true. Plus there's precedent- literally every other person from the science hive given the chance to turn on the Salikai (Korli, Likol, and the other 7 or 8 the warhive captured) has taken that chance.

No harm in keeping an eye peeled, though.
>>
No. 503358 ID: 9ddf68

then just pat her on the shoulder or something and ask how her head wound is doing and how she is holding up in general, if things for whatever reason start to get weird or if you just run out of things to talk about then ask her how the map data is going and if there is anything to note.
>>
No. 503384 ID: b33427

Outright tell Katzati that she looked like she could use a hug, but you had to think a moment about how to go about it. Then climb up on the table, step down onto her legs, and embrace her from there. Alternately, hug her from her right side as far as you can reach and she can put her arm around your back. Take a moment to drop your empathic block and thank her for what she did for you back at the last camp, and ask how well her ear is healing up.

Once the moment has passed, ask Katz to look at the maps around the cave exits and pick out the one with the most hiding spots and ways to evade patrols within about an hour's travel around it; That'll be the target exit. Then ask if later she could help you talk to Kort about his fear of water.

Thinking about it, there might be a way for the escape group to have some idea if you were successful or not. Ask Korli and Niam if it'd be possible to listen in on the frequency and wavelength the salikai use and detect if there are messages going over the channel; Not decrypt, but just know if there are messages. Then when the time comes to storm the exit, they can listen for a spike or dip in traffic on that channel. If they need a transceiver with the right characteristics the one from the empathic relay might work.

Alternate test for your success would be to flip the empathic relay back to relay mode, put it on one of the escape group's backs, and hold them outside the jamming field for a few seconds. If that person starts to be hijacked by Four Stripes, then the escape group will know you've failed in destroying all the radio links. Downside to this test is it'll have to be done after taking down the exit guards, because otherwise the neumono guards would sense it.

Also ask Niam what the area around the radio links looks like, so you'll have an idea of how to camouflage the explosives, and if any of the radio link electronics are in enclosures on the outside of the base. If there are, you could open one and hide the explosives inside. Might not even need explosives if he could rig up something that'd attach to the high voltage line in there and completely fry the circuit boards when the timer goes off.

As for getting explosives and such, head out by yourself so you can move quickly and quietly, find a patrol, and tail them for a bit to see if they head to staging area. If they do, then hide and watch the staging area to see if any of the patrols that are leaving from there are carrying explosive gel launchers or other kinds of high explosives. Then tail that patrol until you have a chance to strike or steal.

>Grenades
Didn't you get a single grenade off of that group that had the cloakers in it?
>>
No. 503411 ID: d6ef5d

>>503384
Hmm. Trying to jury rig something to just detect the level of enemy chatter, without actually trying to decode the transmissions, is pretty clever.

If we're going to do a full moral roundup, checking on people before we head out for the next stage of whatever we're doing, we should probably check with Lucera and the inventory. See Rokann once she's clean. We'll have to talk to Viln too- he's been through a lot here, and you'll likely be separating soon. Kort could probably use some reassurance.

...and hope no one else wants to talk to you about the Roklona situation.
>>
No. 503461 ID: c4e5c2
File 136488558627.png - (22.64KB , 700x700 , 244.png )
503461

>There's an opening right above you.
There is, but it is merely where the carved stone has fallen. There is only more rock underneath.

I walk up to Katzati. I start to give a thumbs up, but I do not give thumbs up and my hand just hovers for a stupidly awkward split second. I salvage this by continuing to move it upward and patting her on the shoulder.

"How is your head doing?"

Physical contact is still weak with the jammer, but once again, it is there once I drop my silence. Her head still pounds, but she is hanging in there. She responds well to whatever scraps of empathy she can get. I suppose it may have been better if I did follow through with my original thought of a potential hug--
>>
No. 503462 ID: c4e5c2
File 136488559546.png - (15.93KB , 700x700 , 245.png )
503462

Okay. She sensed that I was going to hug her and she took that to mean swiftly pull me up and squeeze me hard enough to make me think that she is trying to make a permanent Polo-shaped indentation in her front.

She is strong and reminds me that if I enter combat with Rokoa, I am going to have to use my melee training just to not get grabbed by her. It will mean death or worse. Such as getting injected with Rokoa. For the sake of mental health, in regards to both of us, I will stop thinking of such things for the moment. I am uncertain why she cares to latch onto me when there are other neumono around who likely have... who maybe have more relaxing thoughts than my own.

As for her, she has an odd, newfound admiration that I am apparently so quick to just tell everyone to go on ahead while I stick behind. She still has excessive worry on her mind. And that hugging someone with armor is not ideal, but due to the possibility that a team of voklits or hunters or whatever could surface during however long she is planning on latching onto me for, I am not comfortable with taking it off. She would crush me anyway.

Maybe she can sense that maybe I could have used a - I am done thinking for the moment.

"I will need you to look at exits to see which has the most hiding spots."
>"I know, I will. Niam has to use the computer anyway."
>>
No. 503469 ID: f2c20c

>>503462
She's still uncomfortable about the jammer, and this helps. Let her have this. We're not doing much of anything right now anyway.

Has Viln's bullet been extracted yet?
>>
No. 503492 ID: d6ef5d

>who maybe have more relaxing thoughts than my own
To be fair, pretty much everyone is going to be worrying about something right now. And your thoughts are the only ones that went to comforting another. So yeah, you're pretty much as good as it gets, here.

>Has Viln's bullet been extracted yet?
I don't think so. We might as well work on him, next. And he might need the chance to talk to you too- he's caught up in a world he doesn't understand while everything he knew falls apart.
>>
No. 503514 ID: 9ddf68

well that is one person in our little group checked upon now we just have to see how everyone else is holding up. I think we should check on Viln next since we did say we were going to take that bullet out of him, then see how well Kari was it, is doing. then check on that one guy who has a name i can't remember who was afraid to go into the water seeing as at that point he should have calmed down enough for us to talk to him, then end it by talking to the solder types and also squeeze debugging in there somewhere as we need to get that done as well.
>>
No. 503520 ID: 55d5a7

Aw, Polo needed a hug, too! Relax into it, girl. :)
>>
No. 503533 ID: c4e5c2
File 136492680749.png - (12.58KB , 700x700 , 246.png )
503533

I let her hold onto me for some time. The last thing I sense from her is 'thanks' before she lets me go.

"Niam, I have a possibility to prevent you from being in the dark about whether or not I succeeded. You may not be able to decrypt radio chatter, but if you are merely about to get on the frequency and see whether or not there is a radio frequency, you may be able to see if there are spikes or drops in activity at our explosion time. In other words, if there are spikes, then I failed, if there is a sharp drop, I succeeded."
>"... smart. That can be done."

I head to Viln next.

"I'm going to get the bullet out of your neck." He lays down where I can work on him. "Stay still. We don't have any anaethesia."
"What is anistheez ya?"
"Drugs to dim the pain."
"No need." Figures he'd say that.
"It hit near the back. I may need to trim some fur."
"Would rather keep bullet in neck. Do not remove fur."
"... I'll work around it, then." Not like I am wishing he still considered himself my slave, but he was certainly easier to work with then. "I don't think I ever asked. Do you have family back in your village?"
"No longer."

I could probably have had more tact than to ask about such things.

"Were you listening to our plans on escape?"
"Yes."
"You will be with everyone else, helping them escape."
"You do not think I or other neumono are of help to you?"
>>
No. 503535 ID: 9ddf68

no it's not that it's just that everyone wants to survive and where I'm going survival isn't likely and we need at least one person to warn the other hives about the Salikai and there plans.

If he persist with coming with you I don't think it would hurt to much and it would be nice to have backup. and because he isn't a neumono we don't have to worry about him being picked up on the empathy link either
>>
No. 503545 ID: c4e5c2
File 136492950536.png - (66.94KB , 700x700 , 247.png )
503545

"Everyone wants to live, but where I am going, that is unlikely."
>"Polo believes I fear death as I am?"
"No, but there is a difference between not fearing death, and throwing your life away. You can find a new one outside when you escape."
>"Where? No home, cannot live with neumono."
"Why not?"
>"Would never accept me."
"Viln, I have gotten my hive to take in a predator and treat it well. They are the very apex of what neumono fear, so I would have a tough time believing that they will have the slightest hesitation in accepting you."
>"Then why treat forest voklit like inconvenient pet?"
"That is the other ultrahive. Not all neumono play on the same team. Besides, you wanted your way of life to at least be remembered if not practiced, right? There's a lot of people that would be interested in voklits."
>"No species other than voklit has cared for voklit ways."
"Aliens do. Odd, but true. The world has changed, you know that as much as anyone."
>"Hm."
"Anyways, I found the bullet. It wasn't that deep after all."
>>
No. 503546 ID: c4e5c2
File 136492951673.png - (12.24KB , 700x700 , 247bu.png )
503546

I move over to my next target of attention.

"Hello, Kort."
>"Hrmph." He rolls back over in his bedding.
"Are you still wishing you let the salikai capture you?"
He doesn't respond.
>>
No. 503548 ID: af8414

Physical contact, make some empathetic reassurances.
>>
No. 503549 ID: d6ef5d

Hmm. Is the triply redundant communication system we're blowing what they run everything through? Including the predator things, and the compromised ultra-hive's leadership?

If so, great. Once our allies get clear and call in, there will be a window to move against the compromised and/or sleepers before they can be warned or receive new orders. If not, central control for the bugs and/or four strips should probably be our next target.

>Viln
You're going on a sneaking, sabotage, and hiding mission. The other neumono aren't so good at that, and will be limited by jammers (I don't think we ever explained to Viln how Polo is different). And they're not all warriors, either. And offense, but you're kind of huge.

And the whole point of what you're doing is so the others can punch through. We can't win this fight on our own. The only way to end this is to get the word out. Break the silence and the secrecy and the Salikai lose before they can do more damage. Someone has to fight that battle.

And if I fail, the group will be trapped in these caves longer. They'll need someone who knows how to stay alive down here.

...of course you're free now. I can't make you do anything.
>>
No. 503550 ID: 9ddf68

ask Kort if he is afraid of water or was that just what finally pushed him over the edge. also ask why did he come along on this trip if there would be a chance of running into Salikai. say all of this in a reassuring tone or as close as you can get to it we just need this guy to open up. Hell maybe you can tell him about the first time you faced the Salikai. you were just on a hunting trip with a tourist before you fell into that first batch of trouble.
>>
No. 503551 ID: d6ef5d

(goshdangit, missed the update. I suggest too slow. >:V )

>>503545
Something else for him to live for is the voklit who survive this are going to need someone who understands the neumono they're dealing with. Viln's got a better perspective than most.

>>503546
...there's no shame in fear, you know. Or being caught in a situation you aren't prepared for.

And if he wants to be useful at what he is good at, he's going to have the opportunity. If we can get out of this, there's going to be a lot of talking to voklit. This whole mess has pretty-much shaken the previous agreements to bits. Or he can talk language stuff with Viln- he's been eager to learn, and you're not going to be around to do that.

>Everyone wants to live, but where I am going, that is unlikely.
Well, you alone have a better chance of hiding behind enemy lines until reinforcements arrive. You're trained for this- they're not. And the more of you there are, the higher odds of discovery.
>>
No. 503575 ID: c4e5c2
File 136494274261.png - (16.99KB , 700x700 , 249.png )
503575

"Afraid of water?"
>"What gave it away?"
"Subtle hints. Why did you come on this mission if there was a chance of running into Salikai?"
>"You think I'm fucking glad I did?! It was a small chance of Salikai! And if it came up, then me, Lucera and Katzati would get lifted right out of this hell hole! Not like the rest of you that were made for shit like this to happen."
"Hardly. My first run in with them happened when I was on a hunting trip with a tourist."
>"And you got buddy buddy with psychotic killers."
"No. We were at each others throats. Everyone apparently only heard about our tenuous alliance at the end."
>"Where you saved everyone and was forever lauded."
"And was thought dead. I did not do what I did thinking I would save more than a hive from a ridiculous queen. Anyway, if you get out of it, you'll be in your element. This whole voklit agreement obviously went downhill, so there's going to be a lot of need for it."
>"Great." Sarcastic.

I take off a glove and put a hand on him. He is still in a bad mood, in a tantrummy sort of way, like a child who had his candy taken from him. Except this situation or worse than stolen candy, but the resemblance is there. This is about as good as he's probably going to get for the time being.

>"There are 9 exits I am aware of." Niam comes to me and starts saying. The first is 5 km away, but there are few hiding spots in its vicinity. It is risky. Option 2 and 3 are not close to each other, but are around 8 km from this point. Two has plenty of hiding points, but the exit is in a long hall that may make trying to push out difficult. Three is the opposite, fewer hiding points, but curvy enough that pushing out will be swifter. Four and Five are mostly negatives. Size is approximately 19 km, has hiding spots, decent exit terrain, but is still 23 kilometers. Seven and Eight are simply the exits that were close to your camp, I would not recommend them. Lastly, nine is through another river flow that exits in a waterfall. While it is by far the easiest to exit out of, we would likely be dumped into a lake surrounded by some guard, and would not be ideal for fighting our way out."
>>
No. 503580 ID: d6ef5d

Exits 7 and 8 are out. They'll be guarded, and ideally we want to come out on the far side of the mountains, not into the valley. Or else they'll have to fight out the the valley, as well. The pass out of the valley will be guarded, and there will be radio-jammers in the trees.

9's no good either. Except maybe for Viln, you'd all be sitting ducks (literally) in the water for anyone on the banks with guns. And you'd have to be dragging Kort, who would be hysterical or unresponsive by the end.

5 and 4 he already eliminated. 1 is close, but risky in execution. 6 sounds good for escape, but it's so far that the odds are pretty good they'll be intercepted somewhere along the way.

2 and 3 sound like a best options, and the most reasonable balance of risks. Which we pick will depend on what we can do to mitigate specific risks- can we come up with anything that will make assaulting a hallway easier, or aid in improving our hiding? (Sliming the party up maybe, or relying on Viln's experience in the caves and heightened sense of smell?).

Hmm. If we're bringing our IR helmet with us, what defense does the rest of the group have if there are more cloakers along the route, or among the guards at the exit they break through?
>>
No. 503581 ID: fb528f

Option 3 sounds good, it'll give the group more confidence about running away when the time comes to exit, but we'll have to hit the salikai fast and hard to keep them too busy to intercept. Option 2 gives the runners a chance to get out quietly and discretely inform the hives but we'll have to spend more time distracting the salikai.
>>
No. 503594 ID: 57a559

>>503575
I pick number 4.
It's what the enemy would least suspect, is an unlucky number in some cultures, an even number, the first second number that can be square rooted, exercise is healthy, and because it is the least stupid of the stupid options in this situation aside from 5.
>>
No. 503597 ID: f2c20c

>>503575
I like option 2. Remember, they will be very spread out so long as they don't catch on to what we're doing. Option 2 has a bunch of hiding spots so it gives the maximum chance of having little resistance when it comes time for the push. They will likely be counting on the ability for reinforcements to arrive quickly and in mass quantity, so I don't anticipate heavy guard. On the other hand, maybe they won't need heavy guard.

How does exit 3 compare to exit 1 in terms of hiding spots? Also, it not being very far away means that there might be more scouts near it looking for us.

Actually, there's an element he didn't mention. What's the general structure of the tunnels near the exits? When the shooting starts, nearby scouts will hear and come to assist, possibly resulting in being shot from both sides. We want to minimize that. Heck, if that's a problem with exit 2, then exit 3 is probably better.

Also, does he know how, in general, the hunter hive is proceeding with the search? What search patterns are they using?
>>
No. 503598 ID: f2c20c

>>503594
You mean number 6.
>>
No. 503614 ID: c4e5c2
File 136495308508.png - (12.27KB , 700x700 , 250.png )
503614

"Do you know what search patterns the hunters are using?"
>"Not in detail. They are likely using sweeping patterns all at once, so that there are no tunnels in branching paths that have to be skipped. I do not know how successful they have been in organizing that."
"I am leaning either 2 or 3. How does 3 compare to 1 in hiding spots?"
>"Somewhat worse. There are a few, but they barely constitute as adequate."
"Do those goggles of yours include IR? It may be troublesome if there are cloakers on your team."
>"Yes. More helmets would be nice, of course, but I will check for working IR's based off the of last few neumono you shot."
"And are there some caves that are more likely to have nearby scouts? It will not be good if you get flanked."
>"I doubt there is going to be a predictable difference. I am working off little information. You are welcome to scout the exits if you feel confident in doing so, especially if you are still going out to hunt for supplies and explosives."
>>
No. 503616 ID: d6ef5d

Alright then.

Do we have anything left to do before we resort to scouting and/or raiding? We will need to procure more explosives for this plan to work.

Is Rokann clean yet? Maybe we should check in on her before we head out.
>>
No. 503629 ID: b33427

Alright. Looks like the next step is to scout out these exits, starting with the nearest one, then raid an enemy patrol on the way back; Just have to decide whether or not to bring along backup in the form of Viln, Marra, or both. That is, after you get some rest. How long do we have here before we have to move to a new camp, anyway?

How does exit number one compare to two and three for the approach to the exit? How straight or twisty is it?

One thing you forgot to ask is if the forces in the field can still communicate over short distances using radio once the salikai's radio link is down. The risk is the guards at the exit will be able to call in any other troops that are nearby as reinforcements, even if they can't call back to the salikai's HQ or up to the Hunter's helicopters.

Another factor is how far away the exits are from the salikai's base. It'd be good if you could escort the escape group part of the way to the exits, since you can scout to sense un-jammed neumono ahead, before turning back to get to the base in time.

The best time to make the push out would be at dawn, so the escapees can all see where they're going and move at full speed. You'd choose dusk, but the lack of night vision for almost all of the group, and the prevalence of it among the enemy, makes traveling at speed in the dark more of a liability then a benefit.

There's also something else you like Niam and Katz to check. You've noticed that the caves are structured where there's knots of tunnels with only a few entrances in and out of those sections. You'd like them to go through the maps we have and find and count up all the choke-points. 'Cause if there's a low enough number of them, then the searchers would likely post sentries or set up hidden surveillance devices there, in order to section off the caves as they search and clear each area. This also means going back to areas we've been is not an option, even if the enemy has searched and cleared them already.

Has Niam gone around the group and asked for wrist watches and other timing devices? Just make sure there's at least one clock in the escape group that's been synchronized to your helmet's internal clock. Don't want this plan to get blown cause of a synchronization screw-up.

>Cloaker detection
The x-ray goggles also work to detect cloakers. Not as effective, but it's better than nothing. Still, add intact visor helmets or other advanced optics to the list of items to try and get while raiding enemy patrols.
>>
No. 503632 ID: f2c20c

As for our explosives... don't we have extra clips for our sniper ammo? I distinctly remember having extra ammo. Also, can't we use some of the gel launcher's ammo for it? Or salvage gunpowder from extra bullets we're not likely to use?

I don't think we should scout the exits. If we're spotted, they'll know we know where the exits are, and will reinforce them. Raiding carries some inherent risk as well, since once Polo's position is reported they will focus a search near where she was spotted. That could result in this hiding place being discovered.

Thinking on it, I'll discard 3 as an option and go for 2 at this point. 6 is so far away they're likely to be spotted while heading towards it, which would ruin everything. Actually come to think of it, maybe they're already reinforcing the exits since they know Niam wants to escape and he knows where the exits are.

So, to sum up:
1= 5km approach, few hiding spots, standard exit?
2= 8km approach, many hiding spots, tough exit
3= 8km approach, inadequate hiding spots, good exit
4= bad
5= bad
6= 23km approach, adequate hiding spots, decent exit
7= bad
8= bad
9= river approach, watery hiding spots, watery & very dangerous exit.

Which exits are near the salikai base? Also, what about the railroad? Can we get out like that?
>>
No. 503637 ID: d6ef5d

>scouting multiple exits
The problem with that is they're all kilometers in different directions. That'll take a lot of time (and energy) and we're exposed to patrols the whole while.

>don't we have extra clips for our sniper ammo? I distinctly remember having extra ammo.
We have 33 pistols rounds, and 11 AP and 8 HE for the sniper rifle (and some unknown number of normal rounds, I think). And we're out of shotgun ammo. Maybe we'll luck out and Lucerra will find more ammunition while taking inventory of everything they scooped up and ran with at camp, but I'm doubtful.

And I kind of think Polo's going to need what little explosive ammo she has to survive. Multiple Rokoas, armored opponents, monsters and all. Granted, survival will depend more on stealth than anything else, but we need the capability to kill things too.

>sum up
forgetting that he classified 1 as risky, for whatever reason (better than bad, but still).
>>
No. 503641 ID: b33427

>>503632
>>503637
Okay, on second thought, scouting out the target exit would be a bad idea if Polo is spotted. Even if she gets away, it'll signal to the enemy to put more guards on not just that exit, but all the exits. Better stick to raiding patrols far from both the exits and the camp.

>Extra ammo
At last check, Polo also had twenty regular rounds for her sniper rifle. Not that great considering all the armored targets she's been encountering. Might be useful against non-neumono unarmored targets, but the only one we've seen so far is that giant mutant miklik. Best use I can think for it is hunting, but that'd only come up if food is running dangerously low.

>Exit 1
Other than the lack of hiding spots, would it also be risky 'cause it's the closest exit to the party's last known position, and there might be more patrols and guards there?
>>
No. 503644 ID: 9ddf68

I think we should chose an exit based off how big of a presents we want to make at the salikai base. I mean if we plan to go in and only make our presents know after we blow the radio towers to hell I say pick exit 2 as most of the guards will be still at the exit tunnels and not trying to reinforce the salikai base, If we are planing to make our presents know before we blow the towers then go with exit 3 as the exit guards will be either all be running back to reinforce the base or only have a few guards stay at the exit still making sneaking pass easier or at the very least making them easier to over power, especially if we have all of our fighters but polo in that group. This is of course if they don't just have reinforcements come in form the outside world into the caves to reinforce the cave troops but eh, that's all maybes.

As for scouting lets get a look at exit 3 since it seems we're leaning toward exit 2 so if we are seen they start guarding exit 3 more and leave exit 2 more or less alone, and if we aren't found out then we still get good details on a possible exit. Also bring Viln with us since he isn't a neumono, so that right there cuts half of the salikai defense measures in half and he's big and strong so he can carry more loot with him for when we go a raiding.
>>
No. 503646 ID: d6ef5d

>>503644
If we're successful, no one will run back to reinforce the base no matter what we do. Because we're killing their communication network and all. Enemy forces will default to standing orders, or do whatever the local commander says.

I would think we'd only want to take further action at the base (going for bug control? Killing four stripes? Destroying the Rokoa brain slurry?) after planting the explosives, yeah. Although we have to be careful- Polo's only way out of this is to survive until reinforcements arrive, which could take a while.
>>
No. 503736 ID: c4e5c2
File 136503099136.png - (30.42KB , 700x700 , 251.png )
503736

"How is Rokann coming along, Korli?"
>"She's sleeping, but I've taken out a bit more than half of the bugs. I think she's cleanish, now, but we'll continue in awhile to take out the rest to make sure, you know."
"Good. And Katzati, I would like a count of all of the chokepoints in the cave system we have mapped out so far."
>"Yep, on it."
"Niam, how close are exits 1, 2, 3 and 6 from the salikai base?"
>"1 and 2 may be around the same, approximately 10 km, while 3 may be around 15. 6 is around 18km. As a rough estimate."
>"I'm working on automapping what we have, the default script is kind of bad." Katzati says. "It'll automatically map out directions to whatever destination, since there are ups and downs. There are bottlenecks, but not actually as many as it might've looked like on our way over."

I start taking stock of my own inventory. I have not used regular ammo for my sniper, and have extensively used explosives. My secondary clip for sniper ammo merely holds all 10 regular ammo. Lucera did find some thermal goggles along with X-ray goggles, while rearranging them to not be in oddly hidden compartments in our bag. The helmets we have will fit Kort and Korli, so most of everyone will have augmented vision. I will still pick up helmets from patrols if the opportunity presents itself. Lucera was also in ownership of a proper clock, and the helmets have built in clocks as well, so we may be fine on those, if just barely. Explosives continues holding the championship belt of supply bottlenecks.

I don't have much left to do, if anything, around camp, so I will have to finalize where my first destination will be.
>>
No. 503740 ID: f2c20c

>>503736
Those gel shots are pretty big. Maybe we could use just one of those to make all the explosives? Or one gel shot and one HE shot. Keep in mind that the push is going to be quick, so they won't need a whole lot of ammo to start with- Katz will probably pick up a second weapon from the push.

Also for crying out loud, we need to use more regular sniper shots.

Polo, please make it clear what the advantages and disadvantages of our shot types are. What armor even needs AP ammo to penetrate it? Does AP ammo go through cover? Or plating? Is regular ammo effective against bioarmor and armor like yours?
>>
No. 503749 ID: d6ef5d

40%? I thought we had 30%.

>we need to use more regular sniper shots
It's not as if we've been wasteful or careless in our ammunition selection. Regular ammo isn't effective against heavily armored targets, or really tough neumono, which is mostly what we've faced (people like Rokoa, or even Rokann, just take the hit and keep going). Our only real chance to make a regular shot was when we sniped the arkot and voklit with the first empathy relay.

If we're trying to recover explosive material, and considering if any of what we have is worth sacrificing (although I'm doubtful if 8 HE is even enough for two Rokoas), it might be good to get an idea of how much explosive material Niam will actually need to make these bombs.

>weapon count
Wait, didn't Rokann have a gun on her when we brought her back in? Shouldn't someone still have her weapon(s) after we disarmed her, or did they get left behind at some point?
>>
No. 503756 ID: 9ddf68

well i still think we should try and do a bit of raiding if to get nothing more then some explosive material but if you think that would be to much of a risk then just take 3 of the 4 gel bomb ammo and see if we can't find some way to make an improvised time bomb out of it and ask Naim if he thinks that would be enough to knock out all 3 of the comm towers. if there is nothing else we need t be doing right now then I guess just take a nap as even you need rest.
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No. 503778 ID: c4e5c2
File 136505114131.png - (15.64KB , 700x700 , 252.png )
503778

>I thought we had 30%
In the months following the last mission, I was properly tested for bio armor usages, and was considered safe for 50%. However, because I would like to take the armor off and on without ending up on the floor in pain for hours at a time, I opted for 40%. Rokoa's old bioarmor is back at home.

"Niam, come over here."
>"Yes?"
"This sniper rifle never came with documentation, and I would like to know the specifications of the three different shots."
>"I am sorry, I was not the weapons specialist. You probably know more than I do just from using them."
"How big of explosions will I need for the radio links?"
>"The center console will be apparent, and they are not particularly sturdy. A single HE round would be enough if you place it on or inside, or even nearby may do it."
"How about using the gel shots?"
>"That is feasible, yes.
".... Lucera! Where is Rokann's weapon?"
>"Right." he says. "Rokann insisted on taking them back. Korli is confident she is fine, and Rokann's hive is reputed to get attached to their weapons. She had 5 bullets in her pistol, 15 in her rifle. Standard weaponry."

Yeah. There they are, getting cuddled up with Rokann. One rifle, one pistol.

>Take a nap
I am only mildly tired, and although camp duties are finished, there is plenty to do. It is still relatively early morning, however, and perhaps a nap will not hurt, especially if scouting takes longer than I anticipate.
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No. 503784 ID: 9ddf68

well since it is early morning do you think that it would be safer for you to scout now or wouldn't really matter all that much anyway? If you think now would be you best time to scout then tell someone your going to scout then... well scout. If you don't really think this time of day would be better to scout then maybe we could push it back a little closer to dusk as i'm sure the hunter hive will at least be switching patrols around that time and in the mean time you could see if you could turn some of that HE and/or gel ammo into some kind of time bomb for when we hit the comm towers.

So if you want to go scouting now then I guess just tell someone your going and then once you get back debrief everyone on what you learned then get some shuteye. if your going to go scouting later then see if you can't find someone help you make the time bombs then take a nap then go scouting closer to dusk.
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No. 503787 ID: d6ef5d

>>503778
*Snerk* That's adorable. Although after the armor security blanket thing, I guess you can relate. If it helps her and she can be trusted with them again- good.

>exploding
Trading 3 rounds for timed explosives would actually be a good deal if we weren't so hard pressed for the only ammo that works against certain dangerous targets.

If he can get what he needs from an a gel round or two, I say get him started on it (they pack more of a punch than your HE rounds, so he should need less of them. Well, provided he can open them up without setting them off).

I'd be reluctant to sacrifice a full 3 gel rounds though. That gun makes a big difference in a fight- and used intelligently at the start of the fight allows our people to minimize the time the enemy is shooting back, and the amount of ammunition we spend. Which is going to be important if it takes getting past more than one group for the exit team to get clear.

A mix, maybe, if we have to? Use a gel round, and a HE or two, if necessary. (If it's going to take time to rig the explosives, we may as well get him started on it. And it would cost ammo to acquire explosives anyways).

>what do?
Let's get out and scout. We want to know if the enemy is closing in on us, there's intel to learn that might help our planning, and if we're lucky, we'll find a target of opportunity with stuff we need.
>>
No. 503790 ID: 9e1727

>Nap
Yeah, no telling how long you'll be out scouting, especially if the opportunity to steal from or raid a patrol comes up, so take a couple hours to sleep. And give Katz a proper hug while your armor is off.

When you do head out, make sure to get out of the water fairly far downstream, and take a circuitous route that doesn't go near the camp, just in case you are spotted. Don't want the salikai forces that descend accidentally finding it trying to get to you.

>Explosives
>>503787
Yes, time is ticking down, so getting Niam on that right away would be good. Have him and Korli double-check all the work each other does; You absolutely do not want one of these to be a dud.

Perhaps mixing together multiple explosives would end up using less resources than using just one. Maybe split one gel shot three ways, a H.E. round three ways, and break open a few of those M.G. and V.M.G. rounds to add in their propellant. Those V.M.G. rounds have got to have a fair bit in each one, with the ridiculous size bullets that are in them.

>Rokann's guns
Huh. That's strangely adorable. Good that she still has them, too. That means the escape group will have two fighters with combat experience when the time to push out comes. Though, until she's been de-bugged completely, or as near enough to not matter, she doesn't get ammo for them.

When the escape group finally heads out, as much as Lucera is going to hate it, they should completely coat themselves with cave slug slime for camouflage once they're out of the water. It may only provide a slim benefit, but they'll need every one they can get. At least the water will wash away their scent, so they don't have to worry about that.
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No. 503793 ID: d6ef5d

>coat themselves with cave slug slime for camouflage once they're out of the water
Actually, Viln's and Polo's coatings haven't come off in the water. They should be able to paint themselves in advance, so long as it dries before they get wet, and they don't scrub vigorously. We're probably going to need to acquire more glowslugs if we to be able to cover everyone, though.
>>
No. 503797 ID: f2c20c

>>503790
Come to think of it, I doubt Viln is going to need 200 bullets. May as well use 10 or so of them for explosives.

We should go out. Mainly to scout around and see what's going on. If we are to ambush a patrol, we should do it quite far away from this hiding spot, and approach from a different direction so they can't figure out where we are.

Also come to think of it, they proooobably already know their exits are compromised so scouting one can't hurt.

So let's do both. Scout exit 1, but come at it from a circuitous route. Then if we get spotted, as we fight our way back we can loot some shit. If we don't get spotted, ambush a patrol in a direction other than towards camp.
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No. 503814 ID: c4e5c2
File 136506248496.png - (10.35KB , 700x700 , 253.png )
503814

"I'm going to scout."
>"Hang on." Katzati says. She places something on the back of my helmet, and connects my helmet to some wires. A small section the lower part of my visor shows up showing the area behind me. "I think this'll help, just in case something tries to sneak up behind you. Also, I have the script editted now, so it'll show you ideal routes to where you're trying to go, or just viable ones if you have to choose differently. Annnnd I made it show deadends too. That is, tunnels that you can only get out the same way you came in."
"...thank you. Niam, please start making mechanisms for explosives. I am reluctant to use nearly all of our gel shots, so keep in mind that Viln's and Marra's ammo, if you can work with it, should have a relatively large sum of gunpower. Vilns especially is enormous. Make sure to have your work double checked, because you know how bad it will be if there is a single dud you give me. Also, are the train tracks not a viable exit?"
>"No. They go on for days of walking before any exit is found, and we would be found far before then."

I am getting ahead of myself anyways, deciding where to go before I take a look at our map data. We practically walked right by two of the exits on our way here. On the other side of the coin, they nearly found us walking right by them a couple of times.
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No. 503817 ID: c4e5c2
File 136506288553.png - (124.70KB , 1253x1748 , 254.png )
503817

"For being incomplete, this looks complete."
>"Sorry, we don't have data on connective caves. The inner parts of the maps will be accurate, but if you go along the outskirts of tunnels next to a wide blank area, you may find plenty of junctions where the map is misleading. For instance, there are about twice as many rivers in our section, marked with the green X, that go around us. And about quadruple the amount of walkable tunnels. More pressingly, the hiding spots I talked about are only in my head, I do not have data for them, and so it does not on the map. It would be best, in fact, that you scout as thoroughly as you can to get digital copies of the hiding places instead of relying on my faulty memory banks.
>"We can look on the bright side." Katzati says. "We would have been here for months if we tried mapping it out manually. Actually, we probably would've gotten more help..."
"The structure of these caves change suddenly to our north and south."
>"The ones we are in now are nearly all man made tunnels. Ore used to be found and mined here, but the hive I believe made their motions erratic enough such that nomadic hives would not think neumono were mining here, if I speculate."
"I also can't help but notice that the Salikai base was not, in fact, close at all to the train tracks."
>"There are some tunnels that run underneath all of the ones we have. One of them is big enough for vernauts, and much of our cargo, including the train itself, was brought in by them through an especially large tunnel."
"... Niam, exit 1 is 5 km from us, but it's upstream."
>"Katzati, please measure this." Niam asks.
>"It's, uh... more like 20 kilometers in actuality, yeah. 2 and 3 are about the same, you'll just have to head downstream either way. Ack, uh, idea. Let's, after you leave, Polo, put this wall up. That is, the door where we entered. I bet if we used a lot of this stone lying around, we could make a wall and make it look like it was never a door, just an artificial wall? I mean, they might try to break it down if they find us, but if they come surface here, we'll want every chance we can get, right?"
>>
No. 503820 ID: 9ddf68

lets head to exit 3 for the scouting mission as it seems we would have to pass it anyways to get to exit 2 and does that rear view cam we just got also work with thermal or would we have to look straight at something to see with thermal?

As for the wall thing, I want to say yes but if we have to make a quick entrance back into this little camp site we got here having to take down and then set back up a wall every time could be a giant pain in the ass. So maybe go half way with this, as in put the wall up but leave a little gap for you to squeeze through if your going to be the only one leaving for the time being. If not then just make the hole in the wall just big enough for the biggest person leaving to be able to squeeze through.
>>
No. 503822 ID: f2c20c

>>503817
Hrm. Wall, huh? I didn't think we had any stoneworking tools. But, what would someone think when they pop up out of the water and see a wall here? That it's part of an inaccessible building? Or that it's a pointless, suspicious wall? Also, does the salikai know that there's a wall with a door here? Niam seemed to. Then again I doubt a scout that checks this room will have detailed information like that...

I dunno. If the others think it's a good idea, go ahead.

Also, I noticed that exit 2 is right next to the railroad. Weren't there Volkit patrols at the railroad, before? I presume that the hiding places he was talking about are rooms in that railway station. I suppose that would work out rather well, but I worry about cameras. Another point of interest is that the gassed area has no explored tunnels in the direction we were going. How did they get ahead of us?

I think we should check exit 3 and 2. They are close enough to eachother for a sweep.

Lastly, there is a big issue. How do we get back after scouting?
>>
No. 503840 ID: d6ef5d

Damn. What's the structure leading up to exit 2? Whatever that box is, it's kilometers wide, if I'm reading the scale right, here.

How are we getting back from scouting 2 and 3? I assume going upstream isn't very viable, so we'd have to double back around to the west, or hope their are tunnels connecting this watery area to the tunnels to the south of us.

>heads up backup cam
Sweet. Thanks, Katzati.

>Wall
It's not a bad idea. If the enemy checks this area, they may see the wall and then turn around. If they don't, well, it'll still be a fight while you're cornered.

Just make sure we have a prearranged signal or code phrase to get back in. If the enemy is really clever, they'll will be using the CAI and advanced voice scynth to mimic allies and call out at dead ends and possible hiding spots. Trying to get us to reveal ourself. (Whisker's CAI could, no idea if the Salikai CAI can, but let's be on gaurd anyways, shall we?).

>but if we have to make a quick entrance or something...
Then Viln knocks the fake wall down. We're just stacking stones- not using mortar or anything. It won't hold up if someone big and strong really pushes on it.
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No. 503865 ID: d6ef5d

Oh, once you're out scouting and outside the range of the jammer? Check if the dart is still alive. If so, can you estimate how long it will last based on how much weaker it is?

I'm still hesitant to mercy kill it on the chance it might be useful inside the salikai base, Polo's going to need every edge we can get to survive. (hit a clone-koa up with a fresh dose of original flavor and see if that's enough to break the controls or conditioning they have on it, or infect a cloning "blank" in the labs and set lose an uncontrolled berserking Rokoa clone).

But then again, I can't help but think how similar dying in that tube is to be being left to drown in that pipe. That's exactly the one way we know she didn't want to die.
>>
No. 503873 ID: 2c7c89

you'd have to cover any other tracks as well. get rid of the footprints, put some undisturbed-looking flora on the spot, find something stinky enough to cover your scents... if you can do that, go ahead.
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No. 503876 ID: c4e5c2
File 136510678209.png - (15.54KB , 700x700 , 255.png )
503876

"We have stone cutting material?"
>"Uh, well, I was thinking more along the lines of finding stones that would fit. It's not like it was made with the best craftsmanship. I mean, it may not work anyway, but..." Katzati thinks.
"As long as it does not take a long time to take down again. Make sure to cover tracks, put some undisturbed looking flora around, et cetera. Now, I noticed the gassed tunnels do not seem explored, considering it seemed active with salikai forces."
>"Er, yeah, that area was really messed up. I think I can get more, but it's going to take awhile."
"Alright. I don't think I will be going back there anyways, at least not that deep in, which brings me to my next issue. Just how do I get back?"
>"The way you came, or from the north." explains Niam. "I recall additional cave tunnels in the sections here that are missing. I will not try to mark precisely what those tunnels are, because I will be wrong. You will have to find out by searching through these places."
"Is that a railway station by exit two?"
>"No, that is the main town of the old neumono hive that may have originally made the railway. The railway runs underneath the town itself."

We define some secret signals to each other for identification down the line, and I move back into the water with my weapons, helmet, silence and Rokoa. She is weaker again, and I do not believe that she will live long enough to be of any use, which was already unlikely. It still only feels vaguely similar to the Rokoa I know, giving me doubt if this is her, or if it is, if the process she's gone through has not changed her personality.
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No. 503884 ID: eaf2f5

Keep the tube with you on the off chance that it will be useful. Also as a good luck charm since we had Rokoa with us the last time we fought the salikai forces.
Except this time we are the big one and she is tiny.
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No. 503885 ID: 9ddf68

alright then lets get this scouting/scavenging mission started. As for our grocery list of things to scavenge I say try and get anything that can go boom as it might help with our time bombs we're making and would definitely help against any Rokoa clones we run into, next on the list would be useful gear like helmets with thermal and/or x-ray, gas mask, maybe some data on hunter hive and salikai troop movement if you can find anything like that (unlikely but hey one can always hope), and lastly anything else you might come across and could be useful.
>>
No. 503886 ID: 57a559

...
Show your empathy to it?
Say sorry? Give it a hug?
... say her kid's name?
>>
No. 503888 ID: d6ef5d

Hmm. I guess if there's a whole abandoned town, that explains why 2 is rated as having good hiding.

>personality changed
Well, it could hardly be for the worse, right? ...right?

If it's safe to do so, what happens if you open up and turn off the silence? Let her know she's not alone. How does she respond? Depending on what happens, you'll know if it's kinder to mercy kill her, or just keep her with you till she passes. Of course there's always one way you could save her... but you're not even thinking about that.

>Scouting
We need intel for our exit strategies, and anything that might help us with our later sabotage approach. If we find suitable targets of opportunity, we're in the market for more helmets, ammunition, and explosives. More food would be nice too, but that's a lower priority, and you'd be hard pressed to bring back enough to make a difference to group (we/they can always make a shorter foray for hunting, if necessary).

There's also the small chance that Biles might be somewhere down here as well, although we'd have to be pretty lucky to come across him.
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No. 503889 ID: f2c20c

>>503876
Try communicating empathically with her. See if you can get a reaction. That should give us an indication of what her reaction would be if she had a body.
>>
No. 503891 ID: 2f4b71

Ask Niam if there are immediate physical indicators that someone has been infected by the Rokoa-brain-matter. If not, and the main symptom is empathic, then if the cells live long enough they may be sufficient to infiltrate the Salikai base if need be:
Swallow the capsule (or otherwise secret it inside yourself, e.g. in an ear), go silent, and stagger around near the base aimlessly. Any patrols will sense a Neumono infected with the brain matter, and I bet Vanski would jump at the chance to watch Rokoa take over Polo from the inside.

You'd be better off infiltrating with your equipment if possible, but if not at least this would give you the jump on them once inside.
>>
No. 503892 ID: 9e1727

Then this vial of warped Rokoa isn't going to be of any use to you to carry; It might even be a hindrance if it's empathic signature is somehow detected before it dies. Better just leave it behind in the group's pack. If they escape, eventually it might be of worth for research into how to recreate it's effects, and how to defend against them.

...Though, out of rather morbid curiosity, let your empathic block drop and sense how the Rokoa-matter responds to you before leaving it behind.

First scouting stop is swimming with the river to the first fork, then going to the east to see if there's any tunnels out of it that lead to the south. Perhaps you could find a way they could take to exit 1 that isn't 20 km long. It'd also be good to have a way to get to the salikai's base when the time comes that doesn't involve a long clockwise detour to the north and east.

If there's no tunnels to scout there, continue along with the river and swim to that lake to the northeast. Check out that bend in it on its southeast side for a possible tunnel entrance.

The basic tentative plan is to scout exits 2, 3, and 1, in that order, then search for a way to get back to camp that doesn't take you farther west than exit 1. Maybe even find a way for the escape group to get to exit 1 or the tunnels south of the river without taking a big detour.

Shame you won't have time here to scout out the area around the salikai's base, but you'll be too worn out by the end of scouting out the exits to safely scout down there as well and get back to camp. When the time comes to escape, you'll just have to head out well ahead of the escape group leaving to give yourself time to scout around the base.
>>
No. 503895 ID: d6ef5d

>>503892
Pretty sure Polo said before the dart's empathic signal is weak enough that it's safe to carry around. You'd have to be right on top of it to notice.

>>503891
I'm not sure what merit there is in that plan considering capture is supposed to invite a fate worse than death, and our whole escape plan depends on planting the explosives undetected. By the time you could even use this idea (questionable as it is) the dart will be dead.
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No. 503906 ID: c4e5c2
File 136511819143.png - (23.66KB , 700x700 , 256.png )
503906

>Ask Niam if there are immediate physical indicators that someone has been infected by Rokoa
He did say that patches of fur would start turning white, along with skin color.

I take off my silence, hoping it is not a mistake if unjammed hunters happen to cross by. I may still bring it with me, as it can only be detected by a couple feet away as it is. If someone gets that close to detect it, then it likely means that I am discovered anyways.

Weak or not, she notices, and she notices who I am. She is not happy to see me, but that is cancelled by there being someone. She wants to know where she is. I think she is aware what has happened to her, that she is a clone, that I beat her in a duel, and that the real her is off planet. She does not care that she is not the original, but she wants to fight me again. She may be Rokoa, but the similarities with the original end there. She is different, and I do not think that is better because of the insinuations. Her normal psychotic levels are gone, and the new her seems like a better match inside of her own hive.

In other words, I am getting the impression that the brain-dart cloning procedure did not break Rokoa's personality, it fixed it. There is a want to fight me, but not in a duel, she just wants to kill me. She is not curious if I will snap the dart in the water with the power I hold over her right now, she is angry that I have that power and that she's been placed in such a vulnerable position. She still instinctually wants to bite my face off, although she prefers being angry than being alone. But either way, her original empathy had something wrong about it I couldn't place until now, but that something wrong is what made her face contort with that damn smile. That is gone. She is not smiling anymore.
>>
No. 503907 ID: c4e5c2
File 136511821015.png - (29.09KB , 700x700 , 257.png )
503907

She is still not remotely gracious to me for the company, but she may have just been waiting to see if she honestly was alive and not in some kind of afterlife limbo. Either way, by the time I resurface to go to exit two, she eventually slips away into too much delirium until I can no longer sense her. For a brief instant I almost thought if there was a way to save her, but the only method of doing so would be absolutely absurd. Even if I could without injecting myself, it is equally absurd that I would want to give her a mouth to fulfill her dream of biting my face off.

While floating down the river, I see a water junction to my right that is not labeled on the map. I cannot, therefore, conclude where it goes, although it does appear to go moreso in the direction to exit two. It could be faster, or I could go left and take the slower route that is already mapped.
>>
No. 503909 ID: f2c20c

We're scouting. Explore the unknown route.
>>
No. 503911 ID: d6ef5d

>fixed Rokoa
If the crazy was what made Rokoa an honorable, obnoxious, insanely cheerful killing machine instead of a boring, cold, heartless one, then I think I prefer the crazy, thanks.

They stripped away the one thing that made her different- that made her alive- that made her happy. Even if it was crazy- a disease, a flaw- she was better for it.

The clones are a distillation of the worst side of her. They're not her. You won't have to think twice about killing them, when it comes time for it.

>route?
Let's try the unmapped one.
>>
No. 503915 ID: 57a559

>>503907
A sane Rokoa could destroy or rule the universe.

We HAVE to destroy and murder all clones of her for the sake of all life. If they're all sane that is. God forbid if the science hive can clone her and switch a chromosome around so that she can spawn with herself.
>>
No. 503916 ID: c4e5c2
File 136512247862.png - (16.52KB , 700x700 , 258.png )
503916

I was using 'fixed' in a constrained manner, as the "broken" Rokoa may prove somehow preferrable. It is largely speculation born from brain matter in a tube in its last moments, and I will not know for sure until I see a Rokoa clone, which if I am lucky, will not happen. I am expecting this to happen.

I lean towards the unmapped river. The river's next exit brings me to the large cave system, only a couple kilometers from exit two. The next choice here is to get out and map the caves and search for unmapped tunnels, or continue mapping this river which appears to go back away from the mapped area.
>>
No. 503918 ID: f2c20c

>>503916
Away from the mapped area? Let's not push our luck. We just found a great shortcut. The rest of the river probably leads into a bottomless pit or something. Travel over land next and look around for unexplored tunnels.
>>
No. 503919 ID: d6ef5d

Okay. So comparing against the bigger map >>503817 we're now in the mapped area to the north of exit two and the abandoned village.

The question is whether we try and find southwards tunnels that connect the mapped area to the village, or if we hope the river takes us there. Which is plausible- it seems to be curving towards the abandoned village, and you'd think the dead hive would have needed a water source.

I guess the question is whether they'd be more likely to guarding the entrances to the village, or the water supply.

Well, this route is going to be tough on Kort, but I think we should stay in the waterway. If it cuts through the village, there will be all kinds of exit points, and they can't all be covered.
>>
No. 503922 ID: 9e1727

You've already gotten lucky here in finding a shortcut. Best not to press your luck further. Get out here. You can always come back later and dive in if this way doesn't pan out.

Start following the south wall of the caves, looking for any way into the the dead hive's town. Don't count on it though, since the hive that lived here almost certainly kept entrances to an absolute minimum for defense.

...Dang. Forgot to bring along that partially filled air tank. That'd would have been good to have on hand in case you take a wrong turn in the water and end up stuck under for longer than you can hold your breath.

>"Fixed" Rokoa
...Well, on a bit of an upside, it'll make the Rokoa clones' behavior a somewhat more predictable.
>>
No. 503926 ID: c4e5c2
File 136512595372.png - (27.25KB , 700x700 , 259.png )
503926

I get out, air out my guns and dry off before hugging my way down the south wall. There is a new tunnel that leads into the town that comes easily. What is not easy is that I sense four stripes, and around 6 neumono down this passage. However, this passage is wide and exceptionally bumpy. It would not be impossible to dart between rocks and bypass the guard here.
>>
No. 503927 ID: d6ef5d

Hmm. You might be able to bypass the guard, but it's going to be harder for the full group to do that later. Especially if this is a stationary guard (preventing entry to the village) rather than a patrol. If the plan is to hide out in the village while waiting for the communications blackout, they can't afford to fight there way in. (Of course, you don't want to be caught scouting either).

Can you tell from the empathy what's going on? We've seen before four stripes only seems to personally control the hunters when he has a reason. Is something up here?

Be sure to scan along the hall and see if your HUD points out any cameras, and do an IR check for cloakers, too.

If the empathy analysis and visor checks don't pick up anything else to give you pause, I think we should go for it. Once inside the village we can check if there are easier entrances/exits the others might consider using, or if the river we left opens inside the village.
>>
No. 503929 ID: f2c20c

>>503926
Not even at the exit yet, and we've encountered opposition? This is looking like a dangerous route.

If the 6 neumono are stationed as a guard, then this is a bad entrance. I say we circle around and see if we can find a better one via this route, rather than trying to pierce their defenses here to see what the inside is like. After all, if an entrance is easily visible from the inside, then it's a bad one anyway.
>>
No. 503930 ID: 9e1727

>>503927
Pretty much this. This entrance is going to be no good for the rest of the group. Even those that are about as small as you wouldn't be able to sneak in 'cause they wouldn't be able to sense where the guards are moving.

Only reason to sneak in yourself is to look for a better way for the rest of the group to get in, or to steal explosives, ammo, or other supplies.

In addition to the full visor cycle paranoia scan, use IR to check for laser tripwires and motion detectors. In fact, be watchful for regular tripwires as well. And be on watch for non-hidden cameras as well; They might have put up temporary cameras to watch over this entrance as well.

Is the slug slime washing off your armor? It looks like its color has faded a bit.
>>
No. 503933 ID: c4e5c2
File 136513028036.png - (25.34KB , 700x700 , 260.png )
503933

This area will be likely impassable for my group. I skip this area and move around, and I do not see any cameras, stalkers or any such abnormalities on my way out or inside of the town entrance as far as I can see. Four stripes was not commanding anyone, so he may have just been mentally present and feeling like making himself known. My slug camo appears faded, but in actuality, it is simply that the surrounding area is even more saturated. It is a long time before I find another route. The new dark red spots on the maps are areas that had more unexplored area that I simply could not see into, but were not necessarily walls.

Nothing shows up on any vision mode until I finally find a small tunnel leading into the town. It has a couple of cameras embedded in the walls along the way, but its range of vision is avoidable. Perhaps barely so. The tunnel is small, and Viln may just barely be able to squeeze through without detection, if with a few scrapes. The walls are blocky, and I suspect this may be a collapsed, artificial tunnel.

In other news, I found my knife stashed in my belt that I had completely forgotten about. I am sure it will come in handy when I decide knifing Rokoa is a viable option. And when I need a sharp bladed object to look around corners and the like.
>>
No. 503934 ID: f2c20c

>>503933
Um, is that hole in the floor another camera?

I say we try entering via this entrance, and see what the opposition is like further in.
>>
No. 503936 ID: d6ef5d

>I found my knife stashed in my belt that I had completely forgotten about.
Geeze, Polo. You just used that knife to dig that bullet out of Viln and you already forgot about it? I thought it just got left out of the previous summary because it wasn't a gun.

Anyways, if you can sneak past the cameras and get into the town, do so.
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No. 503938 ID: 9e1727

Hmmm... Right on the edge of being good enough for the whole group to get through. Alright, head on through. Hopefully you'll find a less risky way in for the group inside.

Just to be paranoid, check in gaps and recesses in the rock and broken stonework for any hidden cameras that wouldn't be spotted from where you're standing.

Those hidden cameras are embedded down low enough that Viln can just step over their field of view, right? What's the light level in here? No chance of him casting a shadow?

When you get to the end of the tunnel, use your knife to check around the corners for guards, just in case.
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No. 503945 ID: 9ddf68

if you feel this is a good way to get to exit 2 with a group then I say give it a look even if we can't get the whole group though here it still gives us a way in for now to scope out the interior of the village to get an idea of how our little group is going to fair when trying to bust out of here.
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No. 503950 ID: c4e5c2
File 136513565483.png - (28.39KB , 700x700 , 261.png )
503950

The few cameras on the way were embedded in bricks. They will require jumping over, or climbing over the brick itself. I believe my camera is marking off where the cameras are found, so the escape crew will be able move around them, even, hopefully, Viln.

>You just used that knife to dig that bullet out of Viln and you already forgot about it?
No. I was using medical tools specifically designed to extract bullets and such things, not a knife. I simply forgot to count it. While I never removed it from my belt, forgetfulness is still disconcerting.

>What's the light level in here?
Nearly non-existant. Getting night vision for everyone will boost capabilities greatly.

The tunnel is not a perfect golden road to freedom, but it is good enough that I will continue this way into town. It seems unguarded outside of those cameras, and I reach the interior of the town. The place seems to be a cavern turned into a habitat. I move on, until I am forced to hide by activity coming from behind me.

A relatively small vernaut is on patrol, using an anti-jammer to broadcast Four Stripes while neumono ride it towards the exit.
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No. 503952 ID: f2c20c

>>503950
Normally I would say kill that fucker and capture the jammer but this is a stealth mission. If we start shooting, they will have to figure out how we got in, and then they'll likely add guards to the entrance we used.

So just let them pass.
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No. 503953 ID: 9ddf68

great they're putting armor on there vernauts now still not as bad as that mutation milkin we saw earlier I guess but still. (Also we forgot to ask Naim about that thing, oh well something else to put on our to do list for when we get back)

anyways if you think you can follow it without getting caught then do just that and see how bad the exit is guarded. Make sure you watch out for cameras and other things as well on your way out, it would suck for you not to get noticed by the vernaut only to get caught by some random camera or something that you just over looked.
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No. 503954 ID: d6ef5d

Well, the empathy relay isn't such a problem when your group has multiple jammers.

...although the fact that the entire hunter hive got armor is pretty annoying. What ever happened to Marra's gear anyways? I guess her armor got wrecked in the car crash and getting into the caves, but she should still have her bioarmor.

Let them pass. Let's try and get a rough estimate of how many they've got stationed in this village, and where. Then we'll check out the exit.

>procuring night vision
Hmm. I've been thinking about that. How do we plan on hitting patrols, exactly? It's one thing if we could hit a group fast enough they couldn't call it in. Then we'd have a window before the patrol was noticed missing. But we can't do that- all the friggers are networked with bugs. Our raids will be reported in real time.

Then there's the added fact we have to be careful where we hunt. We can't take out patrols close to the exits or hiding spots we plan to use, because then we'll just raise security there.
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No. 503960 ID: 9e1727

Nothing you can do to them without blowing your cover. Hold totally still and wait for them to pass before pulling your knife back, so the motion isn't noticed.

Could you pull out your rifle and use the scope to scan around the cavern and look over towards the exit? Lay down and just peek far enough around the rock so you aren't easily spotted? Could you take the scope off and use just that, or would doing that mean you'd have to re-calibrate the aim after putting it back on? Shame you don't have binoculars right now.

>"Anti-jammer"
Isn't that an empathic relay? 'Cause if it's some kind of empathic jamming field neutralizer, the fact that those are down here is going to mess with the escape plans big time.

>>503952
Why even think about stealing the jammer? Our group already has three: The re-purposed empathic relay, the one Polo snatched up after the mad dash to the cave mouth, and the one that Niam was carrying. That gives the escape group the ability to split up into three groups at most, with Viln able to be a fourth.

>>503953
And all those vernauts likely have bio-armor on underneath their regular armor as well. Definitely not something to tangle with unless you absolutely have to.
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No. 503977 ID: c4e5c2
File 136514631961.png - (19.81KB , 700x700 , 262.png )
503977

I called it an 'anti-jammer', but empathic relay remains the better term and I would have been better off with that, or 'reverse jammer'. Not something that would cancel out a jammer's effects, which I will continue hoping the salikai do not have.

I tail them from a generous distance. They move into the exit tunnels. I cannot see far into it, as it gradually enters an incline upwards. Although, the exit tunnels are intertwined, and I would not be surprised if even the escaping group could get through without being seen until reaching the exit, or close to it, with just a little luck.

But I should be able to go through with minimal chance of being detected, so for the sake of being thorough, I do. At least for a ways. Eventually the paths converge back to a single path in what should be close to the exit. Furthermore, the vernaut's neumono piggybackers disappeared. They entered a jammer's range, and I would unfortunately need to get a visual on the exit to get a count of how many guards are there.
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No. 503979 ID: f2c20c

>>503977
The only time the knife has failed us is when a turret was installed. If they have a turret, this is an impossible exit anyway, so... take a peek with it. Just be careful.
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No. 503985 ID: 9e1727

Hmmm... It's most likely a changing of the guard on the entrance. That means there's likely another group coming back down. The problem with that is that they might be neumono carrying an active jammer, or a group of voklit or other non-neumono, or even just that vernaut that went up coming back down alone. None of which you could sense as you run up to the corner and by the time you knew they were coming it'd be too late.

Better pull back to a better hiding spot and watch up the tunnel with your knife for a bit. If nothing comes down for five or ten minutes, then you can run up to the corner and check it with your knife.

If it does look like a guard change, make a note of the time. You can use that to make a guess at when their shift changes are by going up in eight or six hour increments.
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No. 503990 ID: 2c7c89

take a peak. don't worry, you're a ninja.
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No. 504011 ID: d6ef5d

>>503985
This seems appropriately cautious. They're either rotating the guard, patrolling up to the exit and back, or heading through the exit. In two of those three cases that means someone will be coming back this way, shortly.
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No. 504022 ID: 9ddf68

wait to see if someone comes back down first and if no one looks like they are coming then give the exit a quick peek to see if the exit is as bad as Naim said it would be.
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No. 504116 ID: c4e5c2
File 136522306533.png - (24.64KB , 700x700 , 263.png )
504116

I sneak into an especially good hiding spot, Niam's words proved true in that there places one can nearly disappear into. It is a safe bet that they are switching guard. Which happens to be true. Only two come out, though. I note the time, just in case the guard switches are predictable.

One of them is massive, but it isn't Rokoa or even a giant. The empathy is approximately as overwhelming as Rokoa's, but the type is the epitome of the hunter hive. I believe that that is the Hunter Queen. She is not just being relieved of guard duty, she intends on going somewhere.

If she sees me, I may as well eat my grenade.
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No. 504120 ID: 450660

>>504116

Seems odd to leave a portion of your ear exposed like that. I mean, sure, it's non-critical, but it still comes across as out of keeping with just about every other armor.
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No. 504121 ID: c4e5c2
File 136522337004.png - (91.14KB , 700x700 , 264.png )
504121

So I stop breathing and freeze until she's gone. I slip out and start looking around with my knife. The jammer is blocking me from sensing a reasonably accurate number. There is not much I can do about this, because there are only two neumono I can see at the cave exit, and I would need to walk right in front of them to take a look around the corners.

As much as I dislike it, the number of guards will have to go unconfirmed, as I do not have a way to tell if the queen and her single companion were the entire guard or not. The exit also gets bumpy, and the escape group may need to perform more of a hopping out than a charging out. If the number of guard is acceptable, then this exit is... marginally acceptable.
>>
No. 504122 ID: f2c20c

>>504121
Interesting.

Follow the Queen. From as much a distance as you can manage.
>>
No. 504123 ID: d6ef5d

Huh. Those hunters have dog tags. Don't think we've seen those on neumono before. And isn't it a little odd to wear them outside the armor? You'd think you'd want your failsafe ID where it would be less likely to be blown off.

>marginally acceptable
I think that's an accurate assessment. This exit is potentially doable, but by no means a sure thing. The group would be somewhat exposed on the attack, and it's hard to tell if there are more forces hidden up there. Something goes wrong, it would be all to easy to take casualties.

>what now
Head back towards the village. The Queen should stand out at a distance- it would be nice to have some idea where she's running off to. If say, the hunter's prey has been located and she's off to marshal the troops and personally lead the assault to capture your allies. That's kind of important.
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No. 504124 ID: 9ddf68

ok so we can say we scouted exit 2, if you think you can trail the hunter queen go ahead but if you lose her for any reason then cut your losses and leave, she is the queen of a HUNTER hive and hunters have been know to leave traps around to get there game all they need is bait and a queen is as good as bait as any.

After we tail queeny for a bit then lets head on up to exit 3 to see how that one looks compared to exit 2, unless of course you just want to call it a day and head back to camp?
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No. 504132 ID: f2c20c

You know... I found myself wondering where the Queen might be going. Here are the possibilities I came up with:

A. She's leaving to see if she can track down where we escaped to.
B. She has a lead on where Biles is, and is going to track him down. Alternatively, she's tired of hearing of her hive failing to find him, and is taking matters into her own hands.
C. She's been informed of Niamclone's escape and is being put on the task of tracking him down.

If it's A or C, we need to take her out or put her off the trail before she can find our base, then warn the others. If it's B, we need to follow her so we can find Biles- he knows how to disable the bugs, and that information is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL to our long term survival.
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No. 504139 ID: 76b151

Its... its... its the prettiest arkot! Oh joyous day. He lives!
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No. 504140 ID: c4e5c2
File 136523151804.png - (19.49KB , 700x700 , 265.png )
504140

I follow the queen, although I cannot get much of a better read on her empathy. She does have a tinge of a stereotypical neumono savage, and I would bet is a pre-contact queen. To be fair, she must have done a fine job of accepting technology and turning her hive into a modernly successful one, which sets her apart from many.

Successful being used in a constrained manner, here.

>Isn't it a little odd to wear dog tags outside the armor?
Yes. Perhaps it is the tribal in her that cannot tell the difference between a knife and a fork.

We head into the village, and the queen continues on into the center. I detach my rifle scope so I can get a closer look with subtlety. I find a familiar pretty little guy with a radio. I might even dare say, the prettiest.

>"My shift is over. Bring Rokoa to me." she says.
>"... you filthy sacks of fur. I brainwash you, bug you, train you, yet your petty disputes continually persist as soon as I let your minds rest! You somehow end up far more disobedient then all the arkots, voklits and even grottles could ever hope to be! Except for this ill mannered arkot, of course." And that voice, I recognize. Vanski.
>"Rokoa has insulted me."
>"Yes yes, what did she say?"
>"She called me weak."
>..... Weak. Weak?! Well, it's true! You are scum, you are idiotic, you are all treacherous, narrow-minded annoyances! You are weak of both mind and body, which is the one thing holding me back from getting four stripes to pacify you again! Your weak minds are infuriatingly fragile and can't handle any sense of prolonged interference before it gives up, which certainly explains a thing or two! And believe me, we've tried to make you strong, but your brains last no longer than under any untrained predator turning you into saliva oozing wretches, which happens to be little different than a 'healthy' neumono!
The queen's empathy falters. The bugs did something.
>"... it is fine if you think so. But not her. The Hunters have pride."
>Vanski groans audibly on the other end. "Fine. If nothing else, you will remind me why I put up with Rokoa. She'll be over shortly. Make it fast."

Here I thought she might be going somewhere important. I do not know if I should hold less respect for the hunter hive, or assume that she has been subject to too much predator and bug damage.
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No. 504141 ID: fb528f

That exposed ear is such a tempting target for DartRokoa. Before Clonekoa shows up we could jab the queen with DartRokoa for some fun distracting Rokoa on Rokoa action, of course the RokoaDart will might just infect damaged neural tissue and not make a difference.
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No. 504142 ID: f2c20c

>>504140
Let's witness how good this retrained Rokoa is in a fight.
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No. 504144 ID: d6ef5d

>the prettiest
=D!!!

...although it kind of says something about their side that in all this time none of his allies have seen fit to help him get that off.

>I do not know if I should hold less respect for the hunter hive
I'd say leniency in judgement is warranted. They've been subject to multiple forms of mind control for who knows how long (they were compromised in advance of your mission) and you can hardly blame someone for letting Rokoa get under their skin, or become an obsession.

In any event, you can't afford to underestimate them.

>Rokoa
A few points of interest:

Is it just me, or does it sound like Vanski is sending Roklona to kill the Queen? Ordinarily that's something I'd prefer to prevent, but you can't afford any exposure, now.

>you will remind me why I put up with Rokoa
It sounds as if the Rokoa clones aren't subject to the same degraded weakness under prolonged mind control.

You might want to stick around. Yes, it'll cost a little time, and you run the risk of being discovered with a Rokoa in the vicinity (although this town is supposed to be great for hiding). But intel on a live Roklona in action could be invaluable to you later.

>weak minds can't be made stronger
I would like to note they've tried to make their enslaved neumono hold up better under mind control and failed. Whereas you made actual progress training with three stripes.
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No. 504145 ID: 57a559

>>504140
Vanski's a little shit
Where are the salikai with class? Did we kill them all already? Hard to believe this motherfucker is head of the pack. He's like that amateur pathetic monster gangster you're supposed to hate in those gangster vs. gangster plots. The one with a whiny voice.

I hope the other guy is cooler.

We REALLY shouldn't be here. We should also mark this exit out of our possibilities now due to the bad luck that a potentially sane and dishonorable Rokoa wuz here
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No. 504146 ID: 76b151

I think we will want to watch at the very least the start of this fight. I think we will be facing a Rokoa or two for sure this mission and knowing how they differ from the original will be a godsend.
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No. 504148 ID: 9e1727

Watching the Rokoa clone fight the Hunter Queen could give you insight into how the "fixed" Rokoa thinks and fights, which will help in the likely case you end up up against one. You'll all get to see what kind of gear the Rokoas are kitted out with.

However, there might be another, better, opportunity to take here instead of watching the fight. If the Hunters here gather to watch the fight, you'll be able to move about and get into areas where you'd normally be detected. You wouldn't be able to steal anything major, like explosives, without it being notice, but you might find some intel you could use. If you're really lucky, you might find a radio you could copy the encryption key from, or a map unit that you could download from.

...You know, you never did find out how the salikai got all those arkots, vernauts, grottles, and so on to work for them, and kept them under control. More mind control tech, perhaps?
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No. 504151 ID: 9ddf68

if your going to stick around and watch this fight just make sure you have a good hiding spot as you don't get involved in round two if you catch my drift. I do think we should watch this fight just to see how the 'fixed' clones compare to the real deal. it also seems that the salikai are having trouble keeping control of the hunter hive, if they use to much control then the hive will become mindless slaves and lose any and all effectiveness but without any control I'm fairly certain that everyone in the hunter hive would waste no time ripping the salikai a new one. so if we can take down those comm towers or kill four strips then we can cut off around half of Vanski's forces. well just one more reason to destroy those towers then
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No. 504164 ID: c4e5c2
File 136523934924.png - (64.10KB , 700x700 , 266.png )
504164

>I would like to note they've tried to make their enslaved neumono hold up better under mind control and failed. Whereas you made actual progress training with three stripes.
Yes. We are fully capable of improving our minds stability and intellect, but I imagine that Vanski has only tried to do this through artificial means.

>Where are the salikai with class?
Vanski seemed to have some when I last saw him. He was reasonable, letting Rokoa and I go, merely crippling Rokoa so that she could not just turn around and attack him with her hive. It must have been an eventful four months for him, and he may not have been able to handle it.

That, or he has always been like this, and merely stopped coating his ugly feelings with reasonable sounding speech.

Either way, the only remaining Salikai is Ohidi, who was also the most friendly outside of, perhaps, Kiiu, the original salikai I met. I do not know how Ohidi is faring through this.

Some hunters show up. I do not even know how they got word Rokoa was coming to, I am going to assume, fight the Queen.

Hunters here means that there are hunters not elsewhere, and given some show up quickly, I am willing to bet there are some nearby posts that are abandoned. An idea hits.

"Poka, activate menu." The command to unlock my helmet's AI for input. I've never used this before aside from one word commands, but supposedly there is a rudimentary AI that accepts sentences as commands. Of course I first check to make sure my armor is sealed and I am on outward mute.
>"Menu is active. Please input command, or ask for available commands."
"Please search for all active cameras."
>"Mapping Model RKA512 is active on two inputs. Camera model GLASSWALL J-181 active."
"Is glasswall capable of recording?"
>"Yes. GLASSWALL J-181 is capable of - 180 minutes - of - high definition recording."
"What is the field of view?"
>"The - GLASSWALL J-181 - has a field view of - 60 - degrees."

Good. Not perfect, but they are setting up a torch and brushing out what appears to be a ring. I can simply plant the camera down here, and it is less likely to be spotted than myself, and better to have this spotted than me. I can go elsewhere, and come back to the recorded evidence. I can rewind and study Rokoa's methods of fighting if I feel particularly ambitious to do so. The worst that would happen is having the ending spoiled before I see the footage. Or they have a 180 minute long pre-fight ritual.

Or failing and getting caught trying to steal supplies, if I want to be grim about it. Nonetheless, I have a moment I can still spend thinking about this in case there is something terrible able this idea I am overlooking. Either way, I should likely not ignore - or rely on - the fact that my helmet may have nifty features.
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No. 504167 ID: 76b151

huh that green is pretty. She is a striking woman.
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No. 504177 ID: 735f4f

We really need supplies but we cant take anything that would be easily missed. So aim for mostly food and ammo. But be careful because who knows what tracking or mind control backups might exist in there gear.
>>
No. 504179 ID: 57a559

>>504164
I can't help but feel these guys without their helmets remind me of Biles. They're all... so green.

Potential connection?
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No. 504180 ID: f2c20c

>>504164
I like the idea of leaving a camera here, it means we'll be able to multitask, and also that we'll have less risk of meeting hunters in the halls. Just be sure to hide it very well. If someone finds it, they could put a tracking device on it, and we won't find out if someone finds it until we get back to base and look at the footage! Also, this means we won't be able to witness the empathic side of the fight.

While the camera's here, check out exit 3. Is the route to reach exit 3 much different from the route to reach exit 2? We should scout exit 3's entire route if it's not inconvenient.
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No. 504181 ID: f2c20c

Oh right, and while we're here and have an eye on these guys, check them with x-ray to see exactly how many bugs are in them. Knowing if they have more or less than Rokann could be important.

Like for instance if we want to try capturing one to try to debug them, now that Rokann is mostly-debugged.
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No. 504191 ID: 9e1727

Yeah, leaving the camera here and taking advantage of Hunters abandoning their posts sounds like the best plan right now. If you can, leave the camera up high enough that spectators don't block the view.

Worst thing about leaving the camera is you won't have it acting as your rear view while you're sneaking about. So just look behind yourself more often than usual and you'll probably be all right. Corner checks with the knife are mandatory, as usual.

Make a note of how long it is from when Vanski's call completed until this Rokoa shows up. You know how fast the original moves, so you can use that to estimate how far away this one is stationed.
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No. 504197 ID: d6ef5d

Wait. Where are we getting a camera? Are we stealing and moving one of the security cams? Won't that be noticed? Or have we had a supply of disposable spy cams this whole time?

The only flaw I see in recording the fight is we may miss the chance to get an empathic read on what the Roklona is thinking. I mean, sure, we had the dart earlier, but as you said, that was "speculation born from brain matter in a tube in its last moments". This one would be a fully formed, living breathing one. And subject to whatever controls the Salikai have on her. Be kind of nice to know how she ticks before she's trying to kill you.

Trying to hit the supplies while the hunters are preoccupied isn't the worst idea. The trick is going to be making sure your theft isn't obvious when they return to their posts- you don't want them to know you were there.

>>504179
Well, they are from the same ultrahive.
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No. 504206 ID: 9e1727

>>504197
It's the rear view camera Katzati installed right before Polo left.

As for getting an empathic read on the Rokoa, Polo could place the camera, then sneak around to an area that is still within empathic range of the fight arena. Then she could sense at least the beginnings of the fight before continuing on, and possibly more of it depending on where she goes in the buildings.

There's ways to hide we've taken supplies until it's too late to matter, such as hollowing out a brick of C4, and sticking an actual brick in its place. And in the case of ammo and explosives, considering our group is the only thing down here that'd have them dipping into that supply, as long as we don't have fights near where we stole ammo and explosives they won't know they are missing. Preferably we won't have the enemy shoot at our group until they're up the escape tunnel.
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No. 504291 ID: c4e5c2
File 136528734301.png - (20.19KB , 700x700 , 267.png )
504291

They look like Biles, but there is likely no real connection, other than them being the race of neumono that evolved for forests, jungles, grasslands and such green places.

I check my x-ray on them again. So far, nearly everyone has had around 70 bugs or so throughout them. The queen, however, has 140. I will assume that each disc that burrows into the neumono splits off into 70, but large neumono will have two discs and create twice as many.

I suppose the downside of using Katzati's camera is that I will not be able to get an x-ray on Rokoa, as the camera I am using does not have it, nor get an empathic read. I hide it well, although if it is tampered with, it almost certainly means I would have been discovered if I had been here. There are time logs stamps on it, so I will know how long it took Rokoa to get here, although that is only useful if I find out that she does stay in one spot.

While sticking around for the beginning of the fight will let me at least get the initial sense of Rokoa, I expect most of the time here will be spent waiting for her to show up, with a relatively quick fight. Even if guns will not be used, I do not believe this will be a structured boxing match over the course of 30 minutes. So I move out despite that.

The route to exit 3 is not particularly different from exit two, at least not from our hiding spot. There may be a better route that is hidden from available maps, though.
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No. 504292 ID: c4e5c2
File 136528740643.png - (254.40KB , 700x700 , 268.png )
504292

I don't see any hunters on my way over. I find non-mapped tunnels to exit 3. They are smooth, and definitely not good to hide in, and I do not like how straight they are. However, they do intertwine and junction at many positions, so it will still be possible to get through without being seen. It just relies more on luck than anything else to get by the tunnels that do not have patrols.

A river from the hideout area flows through here, and a river exit is found. However, there is one camera I have seen, and it is looking exactly at where one would have to exit the river from. So while the escape group could simply walk a kilometer or so upstream and then jump in and get carried close to exit 3, I am uncertain how they would get out without the camera seeing them. Coming from my direction, however, it is easy to avoid said camera.

Niam also must have gotten something mixed up, as exit 3 is closer to the salikai than 2, contrary to what he said.

Either way, the caves here at at a steady incline until I reach the exit. The exit itself is smooth, and does make one last curve around, so it will make for a better final ambush and push outward.

I poke my knife out to view the exit itself. I see two neumono and one miklik. In traditional pain in the ass miklik fashion, it may have seen the knife come out.
>>
No. 504293 ID: f2c20c

>>504292
Bug out. We can't risk being discovered now- we still have to retrieve the camera. But listen from a different hiding spot to see if he says anything of interest, like calling for backup or something.
>>
No. 504295 ID: 8b9215

scoot
>>
No. 504299 ID: d6ef5d

Wait, I thought we were taking advantage of the hunters watching the fight to try and steal from the supply stores in the abandoned village. Or did you figure that with having to fight for Rokoa to show and the likely short duration of the fight it wasn't worth it?

>Exit analysis
Well, this one does look easier to push through. It's harder to sneak over here, though. Really not sure how to balance that or where to send our allies, yet.

>miklik
We cannot afford to be spotted here. The nearby tunnels are bad for hiding, and a Rokoa clone and the hunter Queen are near. That's extremely dangerous.

Fall back, quickly. Without a positive ID, the guards at the entrance can't abandon post to pursue. Even if the miklik follows to double check if he saw anything, he will eventually have to turn back.
>>
No. 504302 ID: c4e5c2
File 136529343740.png - (15.66KB , 700x700 , 269.png )
504302

I scoot on out, quickly. I am not followed, but I do not see if he used a radio to call in that he may have seen someone. I do not hear anything. I start moving back to the town. While I was hoping to find a staging location with supplies, I did not see any on the way here. I may wish to search specifically for supply stations of some sort, or search for tunnels that the escape crew can better use to get here.

That would involve going west, and without the Queen's fight distraction, trying to go that way may start getting into caves that are normally swarming with enemies, given that was our last known location to them.
>>
No. 504303 ID: f2c20c

>>504302
Well, they have supplies outside exit 3. There were boxes. The problem is we need to get that camera back after the fight, and we can't easily do that if everyone is on high alert.

I say go east instead, and maybe find another exit from the river, one that's not monitored.
>>
No. 504304 ID: d6ef5d

How long has it been since you planted the camera? Do we expect the fight to be over? We're going to have to recover that at some point. We could double check the town for some kind of staging area when we return for the camera. You'd think there would be one- it's a good place for it after all. (How easy it would be to steal from is questionable, though).

>Boxes outside exit
If we have to punch through an exit to get supplies, that kind of defeats the purpose. The supplies are to help us punch out!

...also, there's no guarantee those boxes have anything useful in them. They may have just been left there when they unloaded the equipment they needed and headed into the caves. Or they might be there to provide cover.

>Going west dangerous
Don't you have to go west anyways? You'll have to, in order to get upstream of the hiding spot again.

How long have you been at this now?
>>
No. 504305 ID: c4e5c2
File 136529654701.png - (26.68KB , 700x700 , 270.png )
504305

Technically I will have to go west at some point anyways, if not directly from here, then north or south and then west.

I have kept a steady jogging pace of 8 or so kilometers per hour as best as I can without making noise, so it has been around 20 minutes. I have sensed around 10 neumono so far outside of a jammer that were going to see the queen, although I do not sense anymore after leaving the exit.

I do spend another 10 minutes or so backtracking, moreso east this time while trying to find another river exit on my way back to town. I successfully locate another unmapped one. It is around a lot of loose rocks, although the footholds are steady enough. There is another camera looking over the river banks.
>>
No. 504307 ID: d6ef5d

Man, how did you luck out and find a river exit that wasn't watched with a camera before? Be nice if we had a way to suborn these things so they could be bypassed.

>Oh shit
Polo, dodge to your right, turn around and flip to IR now. I see what looks suspiciously like eyes right behind you, and visual distortions on top of the seams in the rock. I think there's something cloaked behind you. Hopefully it's a cave denizen (like the glowslug guardians) and not an enemy.
>>
No. 504308 ID: f2c20c

>>504305
They sure don't want anyone leaving this way. Seems like it's not feasible to take exit 3 via the direct route. They COULD go around exit 2 to get to exit 3, of course.

...it looks like something weird is on the wall behind you. Like a tube embedded in the wall? Scan with IR and xray, please. We may have been discovered by a cloaked scout.
>>
No. 504309 ID: f2c20c

>>504307
Eyes? Oh crap, it's a grottle, isn't it.
>>
No. 504311 ID: 9e1727

How long has it been since you left camp, and how long do you think you can keep going before exhaustion starts to effect you?

>>504307
>>504308
Pull your knife as well while doing the paranoia check. If it is a cloaker, one cut will break their suit's jamming ability, and show where they are.

If there isn't anything there, turn back to looking at this river bank. With the way the camera is pointing, there's no chance of slipping through in a blind spot? The camera isn't embedded in a loose rock that could be turned?

If none of those are true, then continue on to the east, checking for other river exits. Hopefully you'll find one that has a camera with a blind spot.

>>504292
There's a river on your map north of the town cavern that wasn't there when you originally went through that area. Is that the mapper just being glitchy, or was there an actual river there?

>>504309
A grottle in a cloaking suit... Yeah, that sounds about right for our luck.
>>
No. 504313 ID: c4e5c2
File 136529915521.png - (164.07KB , 700x700 , 271.png )
504313

I swing around just in time to see a couple of objects, or eyes, falling right onto me. In actuality, it is a single object, the hilt of a plasma sword. I just manage to sidestep its activation into the place where my head just was.

Which is owned by a cloaker which, despite previous encounters, is distinctly not showing up on either IR, X-ray, or my sense of empathy. There may be a jammer hidden somewhere.

There is pressure on my shoulder, where I am relatively sure it is trying to knock me off balance, probably with a foot. It is not a grottle, but it is a neumono in what appears to be a functional cloaking suit.
>>
No. 504314 ID: 8b9215

Get a bit of distance. Don't back directly away from it. May be trying to push you into others. If your helmet has any sound amplifying stuff, now would be a time to use it. If there is any automatic way to highlight movement of the rocks or soil you may be able to see where the feet are.
>>
No. 504315 ID: 35edd4

Grab the hands containing the hilts, twist your attacker's wrists until they stab themselves.
>>
No. 504316 ID: 76b151

grapple it. It looks your size. Getting that sword away is your first priority.
>>
No. 504317 ID: d6ef5d

Fuck. Two big problems here. The immediate of course, is not getting killed or captured by your opponent here. The secondary problem is if your opponent or his or her bugs has called in this location.

Assuming the enemy hasn't called in yet, it would be nice to not alert further enemy reinforcements by bringing this fight within the field of view of the river cam, if possible.

Immediate actions: dodge as if your life depended on it. Put your training to use- dodge, roll, jump, flip, whatever. Just put some distance between you and your opponent before you can be grabbed or slashed. (Hopefully moving away from the camera).

If you have your knife out, a wild slash as you dodge might help- if you can bloody the enemy, they can't disappear by turning off the blade again.

Once you've got the space for it, you need to draw a weapon and start shooting. (Hopefully the camera doesn't have audio too, and there's no one else nearby to hear the shots).

I don't suppose a plasma blade explodes in a deadly manner if you put a round through the handle or battery? If so, you could end this with your sidearm.
>>
No. 504318 ID: d6ef5d

>>504315
>>504316
Guys, Polo's strength is not in grappling, nor is she trained in hand to hand disarming. And she cannot see her opponent, who will have an advantage. (We might get a strength advantage with bioarmor, but we have no idea how strong out opponent is, or if he or she has bioarmor as well).

She is trained and practiced in evasion and being an acrobatic little ninja.
>>
No. 504319 ID: f2c20c

>>504313
You're already in melee combat. Thankfully, they are comparable to your size, so pull out your knife and slash at it while getting a bit of distance so you can pull out your pistol and shoot it.
>>
No. 504333 ID: 9e1727

Wait a second. If the cloaker is pushing on your shoulder with its foot, then it's pretty tall compared to you, and it's left itself open to toppling forward if you can maneuver right.

Bend your knees down, and your back back, so the cloaker's foot slips behind your shoulder. While doing that, bring your hands up to grab the underside of the cloaker's leg. Once you got a grip, push it up and back behind you, while walking your legs forward.

Pull it off, and the cloaker will fall flat while you recover to get ready for its next attack. Perhaps you'll even get lucky for once and it'll fall on its plasma sword.
>>
No. 504334 ID: d6ef5d

>then it's pretty tall compared to you
That or the cloaker jumped. If you look when we first saw it, >>504305, note the visual shimmers in the rock are all above Polo, like the person is clinging to the wall. They don't extend all the way to the ground, as you'd expect for someone standing.
>>
No. 504341 ID: 9ddf68

try and slash the bastard to see if you can't at least rip the stealth suit so you can at least track part of this guy, and save your pistol as a last resort because we have no idea how much these caves echo and if there is a jammer near by then that means this guy has friends near by as well.
>>
No. 504342 ID: fb528f

Assuming this guy is wearing a thin cloaking suit like before we might get a couple cuts in with the knife. Get some wide slashes in so we'll hopefully damage the suit enough to compromise the invisibility. Don't grapple unless you have to in order to knock that plasma blade away.
>>
No. 504343 ID: 735f4f

Oh god they made a clone of you somehow!
>>
No. 504359 ID: 9e1727

Well, from the looks of it the cloaker was clinging to the wall instead of standing on the ground. And considering that it has to face the wall to cling to it, it's unlikely it jumped off backwards to attack since that'd put it in a very awkward position to strike. So it's still hanging on.

Actually, you might be able to take advantage of the cloaker sticking its leg out to push you in the shoulder. While leaning back to dodge the plasma sword, try grabbing with both hands where you'd estimate its foot would be, and if you connect dig your claws in. Then backpedal as fast as you can behind and to your left, keeping its leg extended as far as you can. Keep hauling back until the cloaker loses its grip on the wall and falls. And since you're holding onto one of its legs, it's going to fall such that you're behind it. Then you can jump on and grapple its plasma sword away from behind.

>>504341
Yeah, better keep your pistol holstered just in case your position somehow isn't known by the salikai's forces. Besides, it wouldn't even slow down a neumono loaded up with mind-bugs.

Now I wish we hadn't left our rear view camera behind to record the fight. It would have spotted that cloaker as soon as the plasma sword appeared, giving us valuable extra split seconds to react. And we're not likely to ever get to retrieve it now that our position is probably known, so it's effectively lost. Dang it.
>>
No. 504363 ID: c4e5c2
File 136532598638.png - (120.93KB , 700x700 , 272.png )
504363

A plasma blade does not explode if the handle is shot. It does leak acid that one does not want to get in their fur, but it is no instant fight finisher.

The wall is too distant for it to still be hanging off of, so it must have done a leaping attack. That was most likely a mistake. I lean back, simply letting my assailant lose its footing while using the momentum to swing myself around. The plasma sword comes over to try and swipe at me should I try and leap away, but I get underneath her instead and swipe upwards with my knife. I have no idea where I struck, but I slice off a small strip of fur and cloaker cloth.

I hear a feminine sounding 'fuck'.
>>
No. 504364 ID: c4e5c2
File 136532608019.png - (25.24KB , 700x700 , 273.png )
504364

I take a leap back as I attempt to put enough distance between us to get my pistol.

She lands upright, despite my hopes of getting lucky for once and seeing her land on her own plasma sword. In fact, I do not even see the plasma hilt anymore. She retracted the blade and may be putting the handle behind her own body.

With only so much ammo, I start to scan the room to locate where she is first, so that any shots I take will hit. That is cut short when a splash in the river tells me that she is quick to retreat. That neumono remained invisible, and so the camera should not have seen it, although an inexplicable splash did occur in its field of view.
>>
No. 504365 ID: 735f4f

Hmm interesting. That seems like odd behavior for someone after you. They could have just backed down the hall and called reinforcements. Slight possibility of a third party maybe? Save some of the blood on your knife and maybe we can get a id later. And get far away from this spot in case someone did call in your location.
>>
No. 504367 ID: 76b151

Blood trail, also look for ripples if she travels down the river instead. We don't want her getting away. Switch to infrared as well, the damaged portion might reveal a spot of heat.
>>
No. 504368 ID: 76b151

Also we can't let her get away. Now that she knows we are here she can track us back to base.
>>
No. 504370 ID: f2c20c

>>504364
If we follow her, the camera will see us. That may have been accidental though...? Even if the camera wasn't there, following an invisible assailant underwater is a bad idea. Though... we probably could follow the blood cloud. I wish we knew for sure who that was.

Check the fur color of what you cut off. Keep the cloaker strip for later replication of the technology.

Can you get into the water in any way without being seen by the camera? It could be worth our time to follow them, even if it's dangerous. A plasma sword would be a welcome addition to our arsenal, and if we can actually get the cloaker suit off her in any operational condition, the sabotage mission would become much much easier. Heck, we could even consider doing an assassination, without it being suicide.
>>
No. 504373 ID: 2f4b71

(I don't believe it! Thermoptic Camoflage!)
It's a pity we can't follow them into the water without being definitively seen. While the cloak is functional in both the visible and IR spectrums, it's unlikely to be able to replicate the effects of being in a medium with a different refractive index and absorption spectra.
>>
No. 504377 ID: d6ef5d

Damn. Surprising that she'd flee after being nicked. With that plasma sword, she still could have killed you if she'd pressed hard and was willing to take a few hits.

Does that mean she wasn't with the Salikai? (after all, you wouldn't think "retreat" would be in the game plan of a mind-controlled slave).

Switch to IR- even if she's got thermal cloaking, it'll take a moment to adjust to the temperature of the water, and you damaged the suit. You should be able to see her moving away in the water (or if she's sneakily doubling back to shore to try and kill you).

Pocket the fabric for the science types to look at later. Check to see if the knife caught any fur. Is it a color you recognize? (...is it yours?).

Then we need to get the fuck away from here. Whether or not your assailant called it in, someone will be along to check out what the camera saw. Also, if there is a jammer hidden somewhere nearby, you can't sense any hunters that may be closing in for you right now.

>chase her
...and get ambushed again (and possibly react a second too late this time) or get led right into a trap if she can communicate via radio or bugs with other salikai troops? No way. Not worth it just to finish her off, or for the plasma blade.

>she could track us back to base
If she gets back on our trail again. One reason why we need to leave. And even killing her doesn't completely remove the risk we could be followed by an improved cloaker- they could have more than one of these suits.

...that, and she had the opportunity to track us and tried to kill us instead. Another odd decision.
>>
No. 504382 ID: 9ddf68

ok we need to leave this area asap but don't go straight back to our base as it is now possible for us to be tracked without our knowing. So pocket anything you might find useful and get out of there, maybe even double back to retrieve you camera if you think you can do that without getting caught.
>>
No. 504383 ID: c4e5c2
File 136536234348.png - (15.86KB , 700x700 , 274.png )
504383

At first I look over the camera's vision to see if I can't jump in the river without being seen. There is an iffy spot that might not be, but I am leaning against jumping after her, even if I can see her better for a moment from presumed limitations of her suit. She was behaving oddly for a bugged salikai neumono with fleeing at all, but I can't conclude much.

I pocket the fur and the attached cloaking suit. The fur, as best as I can tell with the lighting, is a light red or pink. I don't believe that was a clone of myself, and if it were, making a leaping plasma sword attack would not be my first choice over an HE sniper round, or even a shotgun.

Instead, I head back to town, exceptionally wary of my backside since there is another river exit a couple kilometers down she could have taken. I have to hide from neumono leaving, but I believe they are leaving the fight with Rokoa. I cannot tell what they are thinking, as Four Stripes is being proactive around town and telling them empathically to stop screwing around and get back to their search. It does not appear that the salikai are onto the fact I have been around.
>>
No. 504385 ID: f2c20c

>>504383
That neumono was definitely not affiliated with the salikai then, since they weren't alerted. Or... hang on. Pink fur? That's the science hive! No wonder she ran away! She's another escaped clone!

I bet she thought you were a salikai soldier. You're wearing the same armor, after all. She probably tried to take you out because you were alone, and thus if you were killed without reporting back, they would get no report of it, and thus she'd have a much easier chance of getting out of the immediate area. She aimed for your head, which is where a radio would be.

Retrieve the camera then dive into the river to try to track her down.
>>
No. 504386 ID: f2c20c

>>504385
By dive into the river, I mean get into the river at a point where a camera won't see you. Use the grapple to swing further downstream if you have to.
>>
No. 504387 ID: 9ddf68

well since your back in town and we have invisible ninjas after us now I think you should grab you camera then get out of here. then find a round about way back to your base just encase you are still being followed and if you can find a nice shady spot on your way back maybe look at the video to see what we can learn. Or if you feel that is to big of a risk then just wait till you get back to camp.
>>
No. 504389 ID: d6ef5d

Question- you couldn't sense your cloaked assailant- but could you sense other hunters at distance? That would tell you if the improved cloaker had a jammer, or if they managed to duplicate your silence.

The fur color is consistent with the science hive, and they aren't the toughest stock, physically, which might explain why she backed off with only a knife wound.

But behavior is definitely inconsistent with a bugged enemy. The alarm should have been raised. Crazy theory: could she be another escaped science hiver? Say, she stole a jammer and a prototype next-gen cloaking suit and ran off before the whole hive was bugged, and she's been surviving by hitting salikai troops for supplies. And you fell prey to mistaken identity because you wear the same armor as the hunters. It would explain why the salikai still have inferior cloaking suits in the field.

>what do?
We need to recover your camera. Both for the footage, and to try and prevent being ambushed again.

After that... look at the map. Could you guess where the improved cloaker might have exited that river?
>>
No. 504398 ID: c4e5c2
File 136536481065.png - (17.76KB , 700x700 , 275.png )
504398

>Question- you couldn't sense your cloaked assailant- but could you sense other hunters at distance?
No, not while at the place where I and the cloaker fought. I only began sensing other hunters again once I got back into town.

Looking at the map again, the cloaker could have gotten out at, possibly, the red X's presuming that the river does connect with those mapped areas. It is also possible she kept on swimming downstream beyond those points, but I have no more mapped river exits past these points.

I get the camera without incident. It does not appear tampered with or discovered, so I fumble around with my helmet trying to reconnect it.
>>
No. 504402 ID: d6ef5d

>fumble with helmet
If absolutely necessary, you could take the helmet off to attach the camera. Of course, you'd be vulnerable while doing this.

Watch the recorded footage later. If you try and study it while on the move, you run the risk of being distracted and caught off guard.

>could have kept swimming
There are piranha-like fish in these waters. With an open wound, the cloaker would have to get out fairly quickly or risk being devoured. And, if she's a squishy science hiver on the run like we suspect, she can't power through her injury forever, either. She'll have to stop and apply first aid, soon.

I think we should check the nearby river exits. I'll bet she's near one of them.

Of course, if we are right and she's another AWOL science hiver, the tricky bit is going to be getting through to her without getting jumped, again.
>>
No. 504403 ID: f2c20c

>>504398
Let's check those places, then. Look for blood.
>>
No. 504412 ID: c4e5c2
File 136536788412.png - (24.38KB , 700x700 , 276.png )
504412

I move southeast now to search the river exits. The first one yields nothing except another camera. Same as the second. The third one has a camera too, and a few drips of blood and splashed water leading southeast. Its exit was covereed by the camera, although I cannot say if anyone noticed some inexplicable splashing on the exit.

I believe I will be able to cross over behind the camera, where the river runs below a boulder I can climb on and jump over. Getting back should be possible with the grappling hook, although I doubt I can use it silently.
>>
No. 504414 ID: f2c20c

>>504412
Follow the trail, then.

Do we know if cameras record audio as well? It seems like that would be hard to keep track of.
>>
No. 504415 ID: d6ef5d

Across we go then.

Gotta be careful now. If she's a salikai agent, no way this ends peacefully. If she's an escaped science hiver, as we suspect, we might be able to prevent her from attacking us- provided you figure out when you get close before she jumps you, and you manage to talk her down first.

I wouldn't worry about using the grapple silently. If the cameras had audio and was being closely monitored, you would have been caught at the last camera. I suspect they're video only.
>>
No. 504419 ID: c4e5c2
File 136536890795.png - (12.64KB , 700x700 , 277.png )
504419

I don't know if the camera's record audio, but I suspect it may not be. I still jump over.

Although I do so carefully, I nearly miss my landing and slip off.

Rokoa just entered empathic range. She is investigating this section, moving swiftly.

I do not know what else to make of her empathy, other than being a walking field of terror.
>>
No. 504421 ID: beeca1

>>504419
As in she's terrifying or she's terrified?
>>
No. 504422 ID: f2c20c

>>504419
Aw, fuck. Follow the trail fast. Try to move faster than Rokoa but put a priority on not making enough noise to be heard by her.
>>
No. 504423 ID: d6ef5d

Check the fight video, fast. You don't want to watch her fight, just jump ahead to when she's arriving or leaving so you can see what she's equipped with. (Or get your helmet AI to do it for you, if it's sophisticated enough for that).

She's likely here to investigate the anomalous splashes and blood picked up on the cameras. That all but confirms the cloaker isn't one of theirs.

We need to reach the end of this blood trail first and get her out of here.

Make sure you've got the HE rounds loaded- your only hope if the Rokoa clone finds you is to unload into her the way you did with the Red Queen.
>>
No. 504424 ID: 8b9215

Get in a somewhat concealed position or whatever you can find. Ready sniper rifle and aim around the area you think her head is going to show up.
>>
No. 504425 ID: 9e1727

Dammit, the cameras did spot something and they sent this Rokoa to investigate. Though it might not be a full scale response, since the cameras didn't spy you.

Get on that trail and move as fast as you can without making a racket. Gotta stay ahead of the Rokoa 'cause as soon as she spots that trail she's going to be right behind you.

You're going to have to do something that the bugged Hunters would never do to signal to the cloaker that you're not one of them. Take your armor gloves off, and pull back your bio-armor to show your fur. Your stature and fur color alone might make her realize you're Polo, but when you get near the end of the trail, stick your hands up in the air. Removing the armor and bio-armor gloves will also let you put your hand on the cloaker to show you're not bugged.

Oh, and ready your sniper rifle with HE rounds on the way. You can hold it up in the air with one hand just as well. That's something the Hunters wouldn't so either.

>>504424
...Are you fuckin' stupid? It might take this Rokoa down, but then there's all the other Hunters and salikai forces around Polo. We are not here to fight; That's for another time.
>>
No. 504427 ID: d6ef5d

>>504423
I'm assuming, by the way, that you have enough of a head start to reach where you're headed before she catches up.

If this is not the case, or you feel her getting too close to you, feel free to dart down a tunnel away from the trail, or to hide yourself in some way. You do not want to be found.

Best case: we find the cloaker, persuade her you're on the same side, and we get out clean. Worse case: Rokoa gets too close and you're forced to ambush her with HE rounds. Even worse case: Rokoa finds you before you can prepare an ambush. Worst case: they're both hostile and you get caught between them.

>>504425
I don't think we have time to dick around with layers of armor we may need. And the scared and cornered science hiver may not notice the significance of Polo's hand in the dark. Our best bet is to just talk (and fast) when we reach where we think they're hiding.
>>
No. 504429 ID: f2c20c

>>504427
Yeah I agree, we should just try to talk. Say "I'm Polo, Rokoa is coming, she's following your blood trail you idiot, RUN!"
>>
No. 504430 ID: 9e1727

>>504427
Okay, you're right, there's no time to mess with the armor, though Polo sticking her arms up would still show behavior that isn't what the bugged Hunters would do. If we want to show fur color, then opening her helmet's mouth would be easy enough. It'd also show Polo's voice isn't being piped in via radio as some kind of trick.

When the trail ends, or we're pretty sure the cloaker is nearby, say in a low voice "I'm Polo. Rokoa's coming. We have to run!" over and over as you move down the tunnels. Make it just loud enough that it's heard across the width of the tunnel.
>>
No. 504450 ID: c4e5c2
File 136537608717.png - (19.83KB , 700x700 , 278.png )
504450

>As in she's terrifying or she's terrified?
As in she is terrifying. To be fair, it would be terrifying in of itself if she was terrified, but that is not the point.

I start moving quicker. The rocks are still loose, but I believe I am able to keep them from knocking around. Unfortunately I cannot afford a full sprint as my instincts say I should be doing about now.

>Look at the video to find what Rokoa is armed with
I am not sure if my goggles can play it, but if so, I do not trust it to play a video and not pop up the full vision. Which I do need to see.

I get around the corner as I bring out my sniper with HE rounds. The blood has stopped, but the water continues, indicating that she merely covered her wound.

"Goggles, highlight water marks."
I am impressed. It works. Sort of. It highlights spots of shiny rocks as well, but the trail is still easier to see while I am running down the path.

Unfortunately, Rokoa just catches the sight of the blood and water trail as well. She starts running after the stalker and, by extention, me. I am not altogether certain I can make it around the next bent before she sees me, but I can certainly try.
>>
No. 504451 ID: 9ddf68

Ok follow the trail as quickly as you can while still being able to stay hidden encase you get caught between a rock and a hard place which might just be the case if this stealth person thinks your part of the salikai and if rokoa is right on your ass. If you feel at any point that you can't find our would be assassin before Rokoa finds you abandon this pursuit and wait for her to pass then just head back to camp.
>>
No. 504452 ID: f2c20c

>>504450
You will know if she does see you, in which case you would want to immediately stop and start shooting her. We have a relatively straight hall to shoot at her from, so that's good.

Still. Try to avoid being spotted. Duck into the next hiding spot you can find if you manage to avoid her sight. Optimally we want her to run past us, at which point we shoot her from behind. That way her momentum acts against her and she won't be able to fire back as readily.

Hey, I wonder if your goggles can point out the distortions that the cloaking tech produces.
>>
No. 504453 ID: d6ef5d

>but I can certainly try
Do so. If you make it, you can then hide and let her pass you. Hopefully, she's not wearing gear like yours, so she'll lose the trail when the water grows faint. If not, you can always follow her, and perhaps HE snipe from behind.

If you sense Rokoa sees you, immediately turn around and start unloading HE rounds into her as fast as you can. You can't outrun her, and that's the only way she'll go down.
>>
No. 504457 ID: d6ef5d

It also occurs to me we'll also know when we find the cloaker- when we're close, her jammer will suddenly block Polo from detecting Rokoa.
>>
No. 504458 ID: 9e1727

Tuck your tail in around your side, hold it with your hand, and try to get around that bend without being seen or making noise, but if it looks like you're not going to make it while being quiet then go into a full sprint. As long as she doesn't see you, she'll think it's the cloaker making the noise. It's more important that she, and by extension all the salikai's forces, don't know it's you than being quiet.

If you do have to make noise, then keep sprinting, and watch where the water trail is. If it suddenly stops, then the cloaker is hiding there. You won't be able to stop yourself, but if you keep running and making noise, Rokoa will follow you and not stop to look for the cloaker. Speak as you pass, "Rokoa behind. Slice her." Hopefully the cloaker will take your word and surprise slice Rokoa in half or something.
>>
No. 504469 ID: eb682d

I really think we should be shooting now while we still have a definite advantage. We're not even sure we can get away before being seen, and getting seen means we'll have to start shooting anyway but without the advantage of a surprise attack and maybe even range depending on how fast Rokoa is.
>>
No. 504470 ID: c4e5c2
File 136538304014.png - (67.76KB , 700x700 , 279.png )
504470

I attempt to run, and manage to get just around a bend, with Rokoa not far behind. I don't believe she has seen me.

"Goggles, highlight movement and light defractions."
>"LIGHT DEFRACTIONS not a viable option. Highlighting movement..."

I hug the wall and hold my breathe. I doubt I could breath even if I wanted to. The goggles are not detecting water that successfully, but I am able to see a couple drops going to the other side of the room, a decent distance away in this cavern. I am not in a jammer field, but if she used a similar strategy as I did, then the diameter of the field is set to a minimum.

The little bit of water remaining leads my eyes to a gun. She has a gun trained on me, but it disappears quickly again. The goggles highlight the movement after I already see it. She placed it behind her invisible self. She must also be covering her wound somehow, because IR does not show it. I believe she can see Rokoa from her position, but Rokoa does not yet see the cloaker. Rokoa is too close for me to feel comfortable trying to speak to the cloaker, whom is well across the room.
>>
No. 504473 ID: f2c20c

>>504470
Just put a finger to your lips. Sign language out "I'm Polo" if you can manage it before Rokoa gets here.

Then get your gun ready. If Rokoa sees you, you are to shoot her. A lot.
>>
No. 504476 ID: d6ef5d

She hasn't given away your position to clone-Rokoa. That confirms it- she's not with them.

Can you use the sign language Korli was using before? She's from the same hive, you'd think she would know it. Something quick and to the point- because Rokoa is coming and you need to hide. "I am Polo", or "I am not your enemy- she is"? Use the sign for the science hive to address her- you should know that one from Korli using it earlier.

Then find yourself a hiding place- Rokoa is coming.
>>
No. 504478 ID: 57a559

>>504470
Thumbs up! Shrug a sorry at her!
Hello my baby hello my honey hello my longtime gal dance into a rock hiding place.
>>
No. 504481 ID: 9ddf68

give cloaker a nod or something and draw your gun on where Rokoa will pop out and make sure you have HE rounds in your gun because we are going to need to take her down quick but don't just open fire when she comes in try to hide form her and see if she just leaves at her own accord but if she does find you or cloaker then proceed with blowing her fucking brains out.
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No. 504482 ID: 9e1727

If there's anywhere you could hide along the wall behind you, do so. While getting into hiding, point towards the cloaker, then make a slashing gesture from her to Rokoa's position, and point towards Rokoa's location. Hopefully she'll get the message and start moving around the cavern to get near enough to strike Rokoa with her plasma sword.

Once in hiding keep your rifle ready to pop out and nail Rokoa in the visor or head if it feels like she's going to search towards your position. Also be wary even if she's heading out to search the cavern, since if you have a rear view camera in your helmet, she could as well. Just be ready to shoot if there's even the faintest signal she's noticed you.

Otherwise, if you have no place to hide, you're going to have to strike, and make it count. Get along the wall so you're somewhat out of the blast radius of one of your HE shots, while gesturing to the cloaker to get down or behind cover on the eastern cavern wall. Then turn, aim where Rokoa's head will be, and time your firing so that it lands right as she clears the corner. That'll blind and deafen her, leaving you an opening to get in behind her. You want to be behind her, 'cause she's going to react by spraying the cavern down with gunfire, and that'll be the safest spot.
>>
No. 504490 ID: 8b9215

Ready gun to pop the bitch's head off. The one you can see. Aim for the left eye socket.
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No. 504518 ID: c4e5c2
File 136540130456.png - (29.07KB , 700x700 , 280.png )
504518

This room is largely circular, and I do not have time to get in an equal hiding spot that is farther way than my current spot. Which unfortunately is extremely close to the tunnel where Rokoa is coming out of.

I start making sign language for 'I'm Polo.' It is difficult to find a happy medium between going so fast that she might think I was going to go for a gun and shoot her, and going so slow that Rokoa pops out and I just end up with 'I'm'.

Saying who I am succeeds, although I do not get any confirmation that she saw or cares. Rokoa pops out. She smells of dried blood and murder.

I am also not entirely sure I want to look at the fight recording anymore. Goddamnit. I have my HE rounds. I am about as ready to fire as I'll ever be. Rokoa has slowed down to a walking pace. She knows someone is around here.
>>
No. 504519 ID: 76b151

dear god this Rokoa bites. I wonder why they cropped her ears as well.
>>
No. 504520 ID: b53faa

>>504518
It looks like they grafted weights onto her ears, that could be a bit dangerous in a fight.
They look unsullied by blood however, so ther may be a chance she is not yet skilled with them.
She is already on edge, so trying a snea attack with the knife is pretty much PHENOMENALLY stupid.

Focus your efforts on taking her out as quietly as you can manage with the gun you have.
>>
No. 504521 ID: f2c20c

>>504518
Oh god. She cut off her ears and put caps on them, so that nobody could grab them. Wait, where are her tits?! Did she cut those off too? My GOD.

Don't fire until she's further into the room. You won't survive this fight unless you can get more than one shot off.

I think it goes without saying that you should destroy her head/eyes first and foremost, so that she can't really fire back with any accuracy.
>>
No. 504522 ID: 76b151

>>504520
pretty sure those are to stop her from regrowing those ears.
>>
No. 504523 ID: fb528f

Don't move and don't breath. You can't take her in this enclosed space ESPECIALLY because she looks like a biter. I think later on we'll have to raid an armory at some point and get some explosive rounds for the shotgun if we want to deal with her properly.
>>
No. 504525 ID: f2c20c

Oh, and... the second shot should be to blow out one of her knees so she can't rush you.

Come to think of it maybe you should do the knee-shot first. You can take a few hits from that rifle, but if she rushes you and grabs you, you're toast.
>>
No. 504530 ID: f2c20c

Oooh ooh! I know! Shoot her through her open mouth for maximum headshot damage.
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No. 504535 ID: 57a559

Our best chance at killing her is a decapitation, plain and simple. Somehow, we have to get to doing that to her. If she can survive that... well shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit I'm done I think we should just lay down and die or whatever the hell Rokoa would be doing to us then. I just hope it doesn't involve her probable prehen... I'm not going to finish that sentence for Polo's sake.

We need that plasma sword of that infiltrator's. Hey, I forget, why do we know it's a he or she?
>>
No. 504536 ID: 9e1727

Hold fire. Even though you can't miss her head at this range, the risk that the HE shot will mess you up in some way that'd screw you over after winning this battle is too great. If it breaks your visor, or the mapper, or gives you an injury that hobbles your movement, you're going to be in a bad position to get away from the enemy that descends on here. So wait for her to move further into the chamber.

That said, do reposition your rifle so you can at least make a quick snap shot on her upper torso, if not her head, if you get even a smidgen of a feeling from her that she's spotted you. And if it looks like she's going to search up your side of the chamber first, then take the shot, but brace against the wall and look away right before firing so your visor isn't exposed to the blast. You're so close that you can't help but hit.

The only good thing to see here is that this Rokoa has retained the original's attitude towards armor over her bio-armor. So she has hardly any protection against explosions. Relatively good news if you absolutely have to fire HE at close range here.

Perhaps you could even slip behind her if she goes out far enough, and use your empathic sense to predict which way she's going to move so you stay in her blind spot. Then backpedal into the tunnel she came out of to get farther away before taking the shot. Probably too much to hope for, though.
>>
No. 504537 ID: f2c20c

>>504535
Neumono don't have prehensile anything. Christ.

Also I fully expect Rokoa to keep moving after she gets decapitated, but she won't be able to see or hear at that point so unless she immediately grabs us we'll be fine. The invisible science hive neumono has at least a feminine-sounding voice.
>>
No. 504542 ID: 4617f4

Can you still sign to your invisible friend without being seen by Rokoa? A team-up would be the best way to go about this, though it seems an unlikely prospect.

When you say you can't make out more about her empathy than her being terrifying, is that normal Rokoa terrifying, or different from normal Rokoa terrifying? It'd be useful to know if these clones have any major differences, or at least any major differences that wouldn't be explained by being under stress. For a Rokoa to know they're not "the" Rokoa, that there's someone out there just like them but probably better, is probably pretty torturous. They would be more insecure/desperate than the original Rokoa is, which would explain the extra measures this one's taken for combat effectiveness, and the, er, messiness. These Rokoas are probably more dangerous for it, though possibly also easier to provoke into doing stupid things.

You need to stay hidden, anyway. The salikai probably keep close tabs on the Rokoas, so there might even be a streaming video feed from her visor. Actually, can your helmet detect things like that?
>>
No. 504563 ID: d6ef5d

Huh. The clone is leaner than you're used to. And they cut her tits and ears off. Congrats Polo. Apparently this one thinks more like you do.

Anyways, you're in an awful position to ambush. She's too close. You'd get a single shot off before she was on to of you, ripping you to pieces. Hell, at this range, there's not a bad chance she could do it even if your first shot took her head clean off. Alternatively, she'd just spray fire wildly in your direction, which you're kind of too close to avoid.

She appears to be carrying some kind of machine gun, and a bazooka slung over her back.

...if you let her get past you, further into the room, do you think you could shoot the bazooka in the ammunition? If you can set that off, you've got a pretty good sized explosion right against her core. That would probably get us a good ways towards killing her.
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No. 504571 ID: c4e5c2
File 136543571422.png - (19.68KB , 700x700 , 281.png )
504571

>She cut off her ears
Yes.

>She cut off her breasts
So it appears, yes.

>She is leaner
Not by much. Each of her upper legs still has more mass than me.

>Normal Rokoa terrifying, or different from normal Rokoa terrifying?
Mostly normal Rokoa. It is Rokoa, just without something I still have trouble describing or knowing about her empathy. I am not entirely sure if it was something the normal Rokoa had, or that the normal Rokoa didn't have. Regardless, I am confident that difference is what made the original Rokoa smile and act... well, I do not think this one will be fucking around.

She pauses and looks at her surroundings before talking. I do not want to dare try to poke my hands out and try to keep signaling to the cloaker.

>"I can fuckin' smell you, Moi! Surrender your ass and I won't rip out your teeth and make you eat them!"

She moves away from me. She is not as far away as I would like, but then again, neither is the original Rokoa. This one is bringing out its gun and starting to take aim. I can't just shoot the bazooka, unless she actually has its ammunition armed for some reason or it is poorly made or other factors I can't rely on, it won't explode just because I fire at it.
>>
No. 504572 ID: eaf2f5

Keep calm and wait some more, Moi might have started running away again and you don't want to start a fight with Rokoa alone.

Just get ready to start shooting if either Rokoa or Moi starts firing.
>>
No. 504573 ID: 8b9215

I'm worried the helmet will stop an HE round from doing as much damage as it has potential to do. Can you switch to the AP without making any sound? AP through the back of the helmet into the right eye would be the best opening we could hope for. That's what I'm suggesting.
>>
No. 504574 ID: d6ef5d

>Not by much.
Well, there's less stuff on top of the muscle- it's more clearly defined.

>what do?
We don't have much choice. Moi hasn't had time to move very far, and Rokoa being Rokoa, she's about the start looking for her by filling the room with lead. She'll hit her and find her. And when she does, she'll cave under the torture, or be bugged, and reveal that she saw you. Then Rokoa will be on you.

Your best bet is to take the element of surprise while you have it, and hope Moi jumps her at some point too.

HE round to the face now. Then keep shooting till one of you is dead. Be prepared to move fast to dodge incoming fire- those rounds are big enough to go right through both layers of your armor. And even if the first shot blinds her, she's going to react and whip around to attack.

>bazooka
Well, we might be able to count on Rokoa being overzealous with explosives, but this one is a lot more... practical. And I wouldn't bet your life on the science hive building it shoddy.

...that said, if she aims it at you, no reason not to fire right down the barrel.

>also
Estimate on how far away any hunter hive reinforcements would be? I doubt they'll come immediately (Rokoa's probably got them on "stay the fuck away and let me handle this- weaklings" orders), but the Salikai will redirect them if and when she goes down.

...if we get the chance, you should probably x-ray her too. I have this horrible suspicion she's not infested at all. That without her smile or honor, and without her hive to protect, what's left is a bloodthirsty monster happy to cause as much death and mayhem for the Salikai as possible.
>>
No. 504576 ID: d6ef5d

>>504573
Explosive should work if we hit the visor or mouth. And even if we hit elsewhere, even bioarmor doesn't stop explosions.

The problem with using AP is we know a bullet to the face doesn't stop Rokoa, and one to the eye barely slows her down. (And the times when we saw that happen- her playing dead for the miklik, and outside the hospital with Tirrik- she was injured and not at full strength). We need the added injury of blowing her to pieces if we want to take her down.
>>
No. 504577 ID: ff9c52

>>504571
moi as in "moy" or as in "mwa"? are there two roakas in the same room? this base is about to implode if there are.
>>
No. 504582 ID: 077cef

>I am not entirely sure if it was something the normal Rokoa had, or that the normal Rokoa didn't have

Could be leftovers from whatever poor sap was overwritten with Rokoa? Could be whatever conditioning they put on her to make her more amenable to orders. Could be because she's been forcibly cut off from Rokoa's hive. Could be psychological effects of knowing she's a clone, knowing someone else died to create her, knowing what sort of things she's party to. Rokoa wasn't a good person, but she had her own sense of right and wrong, a code that she could use to build her self-worth; the clone might have woken up to find out she'd already broken half of it, which would leave her with serious issues. And this Rokoa may also have been subject to misinformation, fed false stories about what happened to her original or her hive after the point where her material was taken from the source.

Could be all of the above. Might be a mercy to kill her.

If you think the cloaker (Moi?) is still there, take the shot and be ready to duck back into cover when she spins to fire in your direction. Then you'll just have to hope your friend decides to join in on your side.

Are there any nooks or small passages nearby that you can fit into but Rokoa can't, In case you need to run?
>>
No. 504592 ID: fb528f

Welp, guess Moi here can't run away if Clonekoa has her scent. We'll have to cripple Clonekoa to give the cloaker a chance. Start with a headshot and maybe we'll have enough time to shoot her weapon. If we manage to get total surprise on Clonekoa go for broke and start crippling limbs.
>>
No. 504593 ID: d6ef5d

>if we hit the visor or mouth
In retrospect, it occurs to me the best possible shot would be down her open mouth. We could blow her head off from the inside!
>>
No. 504595 ID: 431b3a

I feel that people are ignoring all the enhancements the Salikai could have done to the baseline Rokoa.

We have seen so far, a giant losing most of it's head, and still being able to aim and shoot using the bugs as guidance, who's to say Not-Rokoa is not bugged as hell as well?

Furthermore, This Not-Rokoa obviously has severed parts of herself and capped them in order to fight more effectively, who's to say they are simple caps and not potential back-up systems, possible cameras hooked up to her SOMEHOW in the event her eyes disappear, possibly automatic distress beacons in the event the body gets damaged extensively, and more.

My point is, we can't just go with what we see when dealing with this shit.
>>
No. 504598 ID: d6ef5d

>>504595
In order to use the bugs as eyes, she needs another bugged neumono to look through, and there isn't one here. (Hell, we haven't even confirmed she's bugged yet). And yes, it's entirely likely that attacking her will give away our position via bugs or other means, but we kind of don't have much choice (our position will be compromised anyways if we let her get her hands on Moi).

And if she can still see without a head? So fucking what. We don't stop shooting till she's dead, either way.
>>
No. 504607 ID: f2c20c

>>504571
HE rounds for headshot and kneecap, then once she's blind and slow, switch to regular rounds aimed at stomach and lungs and other vital spots to knock her out. Then Moi can slice her up with the plasma sword to make sure she's dead.
>>
No. 504610 ID: 9e1727

Don't bother trying to x-ray scan her now; You don't have the time. You're still going to shoot this Rokoa whether she's bugged or not, since it's your only option here. You can check after she's downed to see whether or not she's bugged. If she's bugged, then the enemy forces will have been alerted right away, and if she isn't then they likely won't be, 'cause she didn't get a chance to call back before her head blew apart. And the explosion won't raise an alarm 'cause, well, it's Rokoa, and explosions are expected around her. Only thing you'd have to worry about is if her helmet visor and radio are being monitored remotely, or if a non-jammed Hunter gets within empathic distance of her before she's good and dead.

That damn launcher tube on her back is in the way of a clear shot to her head. If you think you can line up a shot under it right into the side of her mouth without being spotted, do so. Otherwise, you're going to have to wait for her to look more away from you to reposition farther behind her to get a clear shot.

Take one HE shot only, then evade Rokoa's response as fast as you can once you get back on your feet; She'll be deaf so you can make as much noise as you need to. Keep evading long enough to give Moi a chance to recover and attempt to plasma sword Rokoa, but if it looks like she isn't going or able to, you're going to have to fire more shots. That is, unless that launcher on Rokoa's back was blown loose and looks intact. You could use that to finish this Rokoa off in one shot. Otherwise, do regular rounds into her kneecaps to hobble her movement so you can get behind her, then a HE round to the lower back will screw up her musculature enough she wouldn't be able to keep her torso upright.
>>
No. 504612 ID: 450660

>>504571
She's emphasizing combat.

No ears to be grabbed. No breasts to upset balance or get in the way. She's been training, and has bulked up with muscle.

That may be why she's "different."
>>
No. 504617 ID: 9e1727

>>504612
Possibly. Makes sense here, since all these Rokoas have to look forward to is fighting, they've removed all the "cushier" parts. Perhaps even the original Rokoa would have done the same if it looked like the situation was serious enough she'd need every edge she could get. Though, it's a bit odd that this Rokoa hasn't cut off and capped her tail as well. Wonder why that is.
>>
No. 504706 ID: b53faa

>>504617
probably for balance. In most creatures I know of that have tails, they are there to act as a sort of stabilizer.

Aaaanyhow, we should probably focus on our battle plan here.
I think we should shoot out any comm equipment then follow that up with a blaster to the kneecaps
>>
No. 504736 ID: 450660

>>504617

Wait... are we sure this is a clone? I mean, it'd be possible -- Rokoa was close to batshit, but she wasn't THAT insane to completely mutilate herself.

I mean, if it IS a clone, we're really in a bad position, since I'm pretty sure clones don't come with memories attached. The last thing we want is to be like "I'm Polo!" only to get our face bitten off, since ... it really looks like that's why her mouth is all covered in blood.
>>
No. 504741 ID: d6ef5d

>>504612
I'd kind of expect those physical mutilations to be the result of her changed mindset and personality, not the cause.

>>504706
Regrettably, unlike Polo's first encounter, Rokoa isn't wearing obvious comm gear we can blow off.

>>504736
Niam has memories, as did the dart. And the dart knew it was a clone, too (surprising amount of cognition and memory, really, considering the size. Not a whole lot of brain to work with). So it's pretty safe to assume the fully grown clone has memories as well (unless the salikia tried to wipe her further).

It's possible there was a switcheroo earlier (ie, the Rokoa we know and love, who broke out of the spire with us and escaped offworld, was a clone, and the original is one of the ones down here) although unlikely (Niam said clones take a month to make, which would have just barely given them time to make one, if they started immediately, and even had the tech working then). It doesn't change the situation though. A Rokoa without a smile or honor who wants nothing but to bite our face off is one we can't do anything with but put down.
>>
No. 504743 ID: f2c20c

>>504736
Yes, this is a clone. We know for sure, because we were told by our science hive buddy that they're making Rokoa clones. Also, we know that the real Rokoa left with her hive.

The clones are made with captured, cultivated brain matter, which was taken, I presume, soon after she got blown up by the barrel when Polo called her bluff. Remember, she was captured by the salikai. She remembers everything up to that point, and apparently also heard about the real Rokoa's 3 "lost" battles with Polo.
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No. 504747 ID: c4e5c2
File 136548232033.png - (351.94KB , 1000x700 , 282.png )
504747

>Moi as in "moy" or as in "mwa"?
Rokoa pronounced it as 'Moy.'

>This Rokoa hasn't cut off and capped her tail as well.
A tail is good to balance with. Although if you are used to going without a tail, you can grow accustomed to it, simply cutting off a tail will be severely disorienting for the short time. Ears are the same to a far lesser extent, and are far harder than a tail to keep out of grabbing range.

Predictably, she begins firing down the wall with her machine gun. I am not at a good angle to try to shoot in an open mouth, but I shoot anyway. I hit the back of her head, but I was close. I am knocked back, and it's all I can focus on just to keep hold of my rifle. I cannot see anything past the explosion as of yet.

Rokoa is hurt, but mostly mad.
>>
No. 504748 ID: f2c20c

>>504746
Keep moving! Go laterally to gain some distance, and also view from a different angle.

Be sure to shoot her again once you get a visual. Aim for the knees this time. If her head's okay then there's no point in shooting her head with HE, we'd want to use AP rounds and even then it wouldn't do much- we know she can operate with a head wound.

So just aim to cripple limbs, it's the best we can do.
>>
No. 504750 ID: d6ef5d

Move and reorient yourself quickly- be prepared to evade an attack or continue firing as soon as you have something to react to.

If one of your alternate visor modes can see through the explosion, swap. Or alternately, rely on empathy- you'll know where she is and what she's doing from that. And if what she's doing isn't going down hard, what you need to do is shoot her again.

Rather than limb shots, I would prefer shooting her in the face if she still has a head. Or in the torso to do as much organ damage as possible. We aren't out to cripple or disable- we need to kill as quickly as possible, and while wasting as little ammo as we can get away with.

Speaking of empathy, did you feel the hunter hive react? Be nice to know if you just raised the alarm or not.
>>
No. 504753 ID: d6ef5d

Oh, and try not to shoot Moi, if possible. There's a chance that explosion and debris will have dirtied or damaged her suit enough for you to see her, now. (If not, you'll just have to hope she's smart enough not to run in front of your gun).
>>
No. 504756 ID: 450660

>>504743

Thanks for the heads up. I must have missed something several updates back.
>>
No. 504761 ID: 9ddf68

move before she can pin point your location, if you're lucky you might be able to find somewhere else to hide before she recovers enough to really fight back. Also what is the status of the hunter hive, because I feel that Rokoa likes to work alone and if she did tear the hunter queen apart then they might not be to incline to help her bugs or no bugs. But if they are coming then we need to either A) finish this NOW or B) get out of here NOW. needless to say if she is getting backup we are boned.
>>
No. 504765 ID: 9e1727

Pull your rifle in against your chest, and curl yourself in around it as tight as you can. That way when you hit the ground you'll roll backwards and have a lower risk of breaking something; You can't afford that right now. As soon as you've slowed down enough to do so, land on your feet and take evasive maneuvers, while keeping an eye on Rokoa's position to see what state she's in.

The big risk here is that the explosion didn't take out both of Rokoa's eyes, and possibly not even her visor as well. If they didn't, then another HE round to the face, heck, or upper torso when she turns around is absolutely the first thing you should do.

Rokoa was almost certainly deafened by that explosion, so you now shout to communicate with Moi. First, figure out if Moi was also deafened by the explosion by shouting "Moi, respond!" If she responds, and you sense Rokoa didn't hear, yell "I'll distract; You slice." Then evade and shoot regular rounds such that you lead Rokoa's shots away from Moi.

Otherwise, if Moi doesn't respond, give her a chance to creep up on Rokoa by kiting Rokoa around with regular shots. If nothing happens within a period of time you'd estimate Moi would be able to sneak up on and plasma sword Rokoa, assume Moi was too badly injured in the explosion to do so and open up with HE rounds. Aim to disable her instead of using up all your HE ammo killing her, then find Moi and get the plasma sword to finish Rokoa off.

You sense anything like Four Stripes coming from Rokoa? 'Cause if you do, then that'd indicate she's bugged, but if not then she may still be bugged but they're only working as a one-way empathic relay back right now.
>>
No. 504766 ID: d6ef5d

>shout to Moi
I don't think giving away out position, or trying to get Moi to give away hers, on the assumption that Rokoa is deaf is the best plan.
>>
No. 504768 ID: 9e1727

>>504766
Really? You think Rokoa is tough enough to still have her ears, let alone her hearing, after getting hit in the back of the head with an HE round? ...Well, alright. Just in the extremely unlikely case that Rokoa can still hear after that, we'll wait to start shouting until after we've got visual confirmation her ears are gone, or are so messed up they couldn't possibly hear a thing.
>>
No. 504774 ID: eb682d

>>504768
>Really? You think Rokoa is tough enough-
Yes.
Note that her reaction to a surprise HE round to the back of the head was "mostly mad."
We shouldn't overestimate our ability to wound or kill what has in the past been shown to be an indestructible murder machine.
>>
No. 504813 ID: 0ca349

Actually she looks like she is copying Polo. Smaller ears, flattened silhouette, no nonsense attitude. Maybe a memory of her most recent loss is still there.
>>
No. 504857 ID: c4e5c2
File 136554304266.png - (34.63KB , 700x700 , 283.png )
504857

I still only sense Rokoa's empathy, no four stripes or signs of bugs. No other hunters are within range, and I have no method of telling whether or not they are coming.

To the best of my ability, I roll to help get more distance and begin to stumble back on my feet once I slow down. Rokoa starts firing before I do, but judging by her aim, she hasn't gotten back up on her feet either. Although I can sense Rokoa's general location, I cannot sense it accurately enough to supply shots with the needed accuracy.

At least until she makes a heartened, if also weakened, roar out of a broken head that she has to hold upright. She also leaps after me, but I hear a couple of gunshots from what must be Moi, hitting Rokoa in random spots. She hits, but given Rokoa's reaction, it looks like she may as well have missed. Her neck must also have broken, but the nerve endings remain intact to let her act on sight. I do not know about her hearing, as while at least one ear is intact, I imagine it is likely that they are still ringing.

Her bazooka is also missing, but I do not see where it flew off to.
>>
No. 504858 ID: c4e5c2
File 136554309934.png - (42.10KB , 900x700 , 284.png )
504858

Shooting her head again with an acceptably low margin for missing is difficult given time constraints, let alone attempting to blow out a kneecap while she is running. She managed to keep hold of her machine gun with the other hand, which she begins yanking its line of fire to me. One-handedly. She has no business being that strong.

Muscles or not, I hit her core again. I don't get flung back this time, but I need a moment to recover nonetheless. I hear more gunshots coming from Moi again, underneath the relentless machine gun fi-
>>
No. 504859 ID: c4e5c2
File 136554321126.png - (11.63KB , 700x700 , 285.png )
504859

Rokoa nearly gets an incredibly lucky shot in. The smoke hasn't even cleared. The shot grazes my armor, but I don't think the armor is greatly harmed.

Despite that I am reminded that the explosion from the ammo may be less powerful compared to the sheer size of it would imply, she is badly hurt. She is also having trouble orienting herself in the face of physical trauma and extreme frustration over the fact that she can't sense me. Furthermore, she doesn't even think she can fight me successfully without getting a lucky shot in, although there is absolutely no inclination or even a thought to surrender.

The explosion also caused Moi's jammer to jitter. Only for a moment, but enough for me to realize she is not shooting tactically or thinking that way either, she is just plain scared. And at the end of the jitter that fear skyrockets, since she, in that moment, could also sense Rokoa.
>>
No. 504860 ID: 76b151

Get Moi to toss you that blade. Time to slice and dice.
>>
No. 504863 ID: d6ef5d

>One handed machine gun firing while holding up her half blown off head.
Goddamn. Stronger than she has any business being, indeed.

>empathy
...has she figured out she's fighting you yet?

>can only fight by lucky shots
So is she still shooting? Or able to aim? How much she can still move the gun affects our strategy. If she's still at all a threat, I'd say switch to AP (or normal rounds if there's little enough bio-armor cover remaining)and put shots through vital organs till she stops moving or falls unconscious. Then we make sure she's dead with the plasma blade.

If she's immobile enough, we could just skip ahead to blading. Although I'm reluctant to get within melee range of her while she's conscious.

>Moi, afraid
If Rokoa can't move her aim enough to target you if you speak (or if she's deaf) it's safe to speak to Moi. Which you need to do- gotta reassure her before she panics and bolts. And borrowing her plasma blade is the most ammo efficient way to make sure Rokoa's dead.

>Are we really gonna kill Rokoa?
Yes. She's not the Rokoa you know- she's not interested in dealing honorably with you, or fucking around. She's here to kill you, so you have to kill her first. And if you spare her, they'll just patch her up and have her on you again later.

...if it's safe to do so, lift your silence for a moment at the last minute. Let her know it was you.

X-ray the body. See if she was bugged, or if the smile-less Rokoa is evil enough to willing work for them as I suspect.
>>
No. 504868 ID: 9ddf68

put another HE round into her if you can and see if you can't just grab Moi and and get her beam sword, I would not let down your silence until we know this Rokoa is dead because right now she has had at least 2 HE rounds in her at very close range (well close for a sniper round), how many ever gunshots Moi got in, and is still showing no real signs of stopping. If you let her know that it is you fighting her I have a feeling that this fight will suddenly get a hell of a lot harder because the first thing you need to know about Rokoa is that she never ever stays down, that and if she is still in contact with the hunter hive or really anyone trying to kill you and they find out where YOU are then you can bet that over half of them will show up here in the next hour and will search for you relentlessly.
>>
No. 504869 ID: 8b9215

Switch to standard rounds. Put a few into her head.
>>
No. 504875 ID: 2f4b71

"Moi! Bazooka!"

Get's her attention back on the fight being winnable rather than just gibbering in terror. Keeps her busy rather than doing some damn foolish spray-and-pray that is as likely to hit Polo as Rokoa, might even distract Rokoa enough for Polo to get a clear shot off (if Rokoa can still hear), and if Moi keeps her head she might even be able to use the thing.
>>
No. 504876 ID: 9e1727

Hold on the HE rounds, lest they knock Moi's jammer offline. Then this Rokoa likely would choose to focus fire in Moi's direction, figuring that if she can't take you out, she'll get Moi instead.

Better hold off on giving this Rokoa any sign of where you are, while you evade and reposition. Make your profile smaller by bending over while running, so you're harder to hit. Hold your hand and arm up to cover your head in Rokoa's direction. It might slow a bullet enough before it hits to save your visor, or it might not, but it's better than nothing.

Move in the general direction of where you sensed Moi. Shout to her to throw you the plasma sword and run. By now Rokoa won't be able to hear you, but Moi might not either, so if there's no response then get back into position to put another HE round into Rokoa.

If at any point it looks like Rokoa is going to choose to spray gunfire in the direction of Moi's position, then unload another HE round into her.

>Lost Bazooka
That just contain the quantity of explosives you're going to need to blow the radio links. Don't even think of using it here even if you got your hands on it. In this confined space, while the blast would blow Rokoa apart, it'd also seriously injure or kill Moi, do a number on you too, and possibly cause a cave-in.

>Drop silence
No. Never down here unless it's in a jamming field. Too much at risk to do what is, frankly, gloating at this Rokoa's defeat.
>>
No. 504878 ID: d6ef5d

>Shout for her to run
What? No! How the heck would we ever find her again? We want to keep the cloaked science hiver, not lose her.

>gloating at this Rokoa's defeat
I was thinking less gloating and more letting her know who killed her. More in the vein of what we did on the warship after blowing up that QI.

...and really, if there was any enemies in empathic range, they would sense Rokoa was in battle and come running. Polo silence on or off doesn't change that. The only way it would be a risk is if dropping our guard allows Rokoa to do anything.
>>
No. 504880 ID: f2c20c

>>504859
Relocate, circle around. Fire some regular shots next, in quick succession.
>>
No. 504894 ID: 9e1727

>>504878
Ah, yes. "Run" would not be the best to shout right now, but if Moi stays still she's going to get hit. Perhaps "evade," "hit the deck," or "take cover" would fit better, though there's not any cover to take here for that last one.

As for dropping silence: Still too much risk that some Hunter walks into empathic range right as the silence is dropped. If they didn't get alerted about this fight, then sensing Polo will alert them, and we do not want that.

>>504880
Don't even bother with regular shots, unless they're used get Rokoa riled up to point and fire a certain direction. As Moi's random shots show, regular shots aren't going to do jack unless they're aimed to hit something vital, such as a kneecap. And since it won't be safe to stop long enough to aim, just keep moving and evading.
>>
No. 504895 ID: d6ef5d

>regular shots not gonna do jack
Depends. Her bioarmor would certainly make panicked, inaccurate shots from a handgun ineffective. But we may have blown or burnt off enough bioarmor from her torso that we can use regular ammo now. And as we saw in the final approach versus the Red Queen, even small arms fire will put her down if she's injured enough (and even Rokoa is thinking she can't win this right now).

We've already basically won this fight, it's now a matter of finishing her off quickly while conserving what ammo we can (ie, we don't want to use HE if we can get away with using AP, and we don't want to use AP if we can get away with using normal. And as soon as she's unconscious, using the plasma sword or dropping an armed bazooka round on her for the coup de grâce is better than wasting rifle ammunition).

>kneecap
>vital
...I think you and I have very different definitions of "vital". She's already heavily injured and mostly immobile. Kneecaps really aren't a priority for making her dead.
>>
No. 504898 ID: f2c20c

I'd like to point out that we have a high-powered sniper rifle, not a bog standard machinegun.

Our regular rounds do a lot of damage compared to other guns.
>>
No. 504900 ID: 9e1727

>>504895
Okay, I agree, "vital" is the wrong term for a kneecap. And using the less valuable ammo at this point would be a good idea, even though the regular sniper rounds are technically irreplaceable down here. Generally aiming for some of her ten hearts would be the way to go here. Still, if we could get a hold of the plasma sword before firing a shot, then using that would be the most resource effective.

However, I don't agree with using the bazooka to finish this Rokoa off. Not unless reinforcements are coming and it's the only way to make sure she's good and extremely dead before we run. Otherwise the explosives from the bazooka would be too valuable in there use in the radio link bombs to use them up here.
>>
No. 504902 ID: d6ef5d

>>504900
Niam's kind of already started building those bombs, though. Not that we shouldn't loot bazooka ammo, but he might be done by the time we get back. And I'm only talking about sacrificing one round.

...and continuing to say plasma sword is a bad idea so long as she's conscious. We do not get within her reach while she can still move.
>>
No. 504906 ID: c4e5c2
File 136556036905.png - (17.82KB , 800x500 , 286.png )
504906

>Are we really gonna kill Rokoa?
>Yes.
Yes again. There is no part of me that would give that question the time of day for thought. This is no doubt a clone of Rokoa, but it resembles the Rokoa that would not have had a shred of something worth holding onto. Even though she managed to show those good traits in an irritating way, it turns out that the original Rokoa did manage to be less insufferable than what I am now fighting.

I x-ray the body. Nothing. Not a single bug, which raises some questions. That does not mean she did not require any modification, but in light of apparently the hunter hive having mental issues after being bugged for so long, perhaps they did not want to screw up Rokoa so much.

Rokoa's empathy is not making it as clear as day, but I believe she knows it is me who is fighting her. She is very much conscious, and starting to yell out classless obscenities while firing. All at me, it is like she forgot about Moi's existence, even though Moi emptied her handgun. While out of fear, Moi was not spraying the bullets wherever, most of her shots landed on Rokoa. Rokoa's firing, however, is completely in the school of spray n' pray. It is less effective, and after the last hit she took, she can barely hold the machine gun up, and often dips down to just hit the ground.

She does not realize she hit me, and so she fires elsewhere. The primary function of silence was to sneak around undetected, but while inside of a fight, the personal silence field is absolutely invaluable. Sense where my enemy is firing, where they are, and what they are intending to do, while they cannot have the same from me. I know, with that, that I need not pull out the heavy explosives any longer.

I fire a normal sniper shot to her face. Twice, now, in the eye. Her empathy shows that she has lost her vision, and she stumbles backward.
>>
No. 504907 ID: c4e5c2
File 136556038173.png - (27.86KB , 700x700 , 287.png )
504907

She braces herself, staying still long enough for it to be worth my time and ammo to ruin that brace by shooting her kneecap. Both of them. 4 regular shots are used in total so far, and she starts falling back. She still fires until the gun makes a crude click. I don't believe she ran out of ammo, but my hitting the gun belt across her chest with the explosive must have made a kink or disconnect somewhere. She falls again, this time dropping the gun and making wheezy gasps for air. She's beaten. Now that I have the free time to go searching for her bazooka and trying to aim with it, there is no point.

There isn't any elation from her while wondering what I will do about her defeat. Not like in the duel that she treated as a game. She groans, now acknowledging the pain she's in, wishing I would get in arm's reach.

"Moi, give me your plasma sword." I say, making my way over to where I sensed her from. It rolls over to me.
>>
No. 504908 ID: c4e5c2
File 136556056576.png - (71.12KB , 700x700 , 288.png )
504908

Rokoa is still conscious. It's misfitting that this is the Rokoa I would kill, as the original would handle it much better. This one does not fear death, but does find the situation hopeless, and is just waiting to be killed.

I am wary of any sudden changes of movement and heart, but I manage to impale what remains of her head. She does not see it coming, I remained quiet enough on my approach. Once I check to make sure there are no other hunters in range, I take off my empathy for only a second, just so that she can, in fact, feel me if just for that second. Probably no point, she does not feel any sense of satisfaction for fighting me or whatever silly thing the original Rokoa would have. I should probably attempt to do what I did last mission, and stop trying to think about what makes her tick. Next are the hearts.

Plasma blades are not without battery limitations, so I keep it quick. I puncture only 4 of 10 hearts with it. Rokoa makes one last attempt to fight back, merely in the form of a spasm of flailing arms and kicking legs. She only manages a few seconds of that before she overexerts herself and falls unconscious.
>>
No. 504909 ID: c4e5c2
File 136556058663.png - (13.94KB , 700x700 , 289.png )
504909

I would hope that would be enough, but I know better. So I take out my regular knife finish her. Not the sort of glorious combat my medals give the mental image of. It is far more personal and ugly than I like, but I push the knife past the bioarmor and pierce each of her hearts.
>>
No. 504911 ID: 76b151

Talk to Moi. Tell her you are several others are going to make a push out of here. If she is wiling she can join you.
>>
No. 504912 ID: d6ef5d

...right. Our empty victory over this hollow mockery of Rokoa is over. Moving on.

We were fortunate that she was traveling along, and didn't seem to have a comm. And that she lacked bugs to call in the attack on her behalf. But we only have so much time before this is discovered.

Search her quickly. Most of her gear is too big too loot, but we need to take anything useful she may have on her if we can. The bazooka ammunition may be useful for making more explosives.

While you're working, speak to Moi.

...are you still there Moi? I am Polo. (If she responds with "but you're dead!" feel free to make a joke about spooky ghost powers. Or point out, that or the two of you, she's the one who's invisible).

If she's still panicked, calm her down. If her knife wound needs to be treated, bind it quickly (...don't make Rokoa-bandages. For all we know, the fucking clones are still contagious like the darts). Then the two of you need to move quickly. Before this is discovered, or reinforcements arrive. Make sure you stay just far enough away from her as you move so you're outside her jamming field.

If she apologizes for or makes a big deal out of having tried to kill you, point out you've worked with people who after they deliberately tried to do so. She can at least claim mistaken identity. (Thought we were a hunter).

As soon as you can, we also need information from her. How long ago did she escape? Do the salikai have more suits like hers (that are invisible to IR, x-ray, ect)?
>>
No. 504918 ID: 57a559

Take the head. Chop up the arms. No risks.
I wonder what taking the head to the hunter hive would do, if it would have benefits or consequences, aside from the extra potential of being caught.
>>
No. 504920 ID: f2c20c

>>504909
Good kill. Only used 2 HE rounds, and 4 regular rounds. Nice to know that with HE rounds, we can ambush Rokoa clones and win. Hell, I bet we could ambush ANYONE and win with HE rounds. Don't forget to clean your knife.

Quickly check her for rations and other useful supplies. Ask Moi to carry what weapons she can, and grab something yourself. Also go "Come with me if you want to live." Then we run. We have to relocate before scouts investigate the gunfire and find us.

Also give Moi back her fur and scrap of cloaking fabric. Putting her fur back on would help the wound heal, right?
>>
No. 504924 ID: 9ddf68

if Rokoa clone here had any grenades I say take all of them but one and put it inside of her and pull the pin just to make sure she is dead. If we haven't scared away Moi by this point see what she is doing down here and why she seems to be unbugged when everyone else is (except Rokoa for some odd reason)? maybe see if she has any friends that could help us out or even a camp of her own with equipment we could use and if you feel like she can be trusted then maybe ask if she wants to come back to your camp with you.
>>
No. 504926 ID: 997ce7

>>504920
Keep the fabric unless she specifically asks for it, it seems useful to have a sample.
>>
No. 504928 ID: fb528f

>>504924

Grenade on the chest should be acceptable, lets stay away from the mouth. Introduce yourself to Moi by asking "Is that an empathy jammer in your pocket or are you just excited to be alive?".
>>
No. 504929 ID: d6ef5d

>>504928
Unless there's no grenades to loot. I'm all for making sure she's good and dead, but not at the expense of our only grenade.

>Rokoa unbugged for some odd reason
It's not too much of a stretch of logic. Think about it. The only things holding Rokoa back from being an irredeemable killing machine before was herself, and those she cared about- her hive.

These Rokoas don't give a shit about the joy of life or honor that kept the old one going, and under control. And her hive isn't here to protect anymore. All that's left is their one time enemies.

So from there, I don't think it's too much of a stretch to see how the Salikai control her. Promise her violence. Promise her war. Promise her the chance the wreck as much harm as possible onto those who defeated her, and her hive. Feed her ego, and let her keep your lesser forces under her heel. And keep her disinterested from killing you by making it all too clear you're on a suicide mission anyways.
>>
No. 504930 ID: 9e1727

Certainly not glorious combat, but you of all people would know that combat is hardly ever glorious. Still, this... Was more like putting down a mad beast than fighting a worthy foe; Feels hollow, somehow. Anyway... Clean your knife and sheath it, then speak to Moi while you check this Rokoa over for anything to loot.

Tell Moi to pull her hood off, partially so you don't feel like you're talking to thin air, but mostly so you can bug-check her. Yes, it's paranoid, but you're not going to risk some kind of salikai trick.

Once she checks out tell her that, if she hasn't figured it out yet, you're Polo. You and your group met and teamed up with an escaped Niam clone, and have a plan to hit the salikai and escape. You'll give her the details later, when you have time.

Check out that bazooka and see if you can get the rocket out of it. Ask Moi if she can help you with that. While doing that, ask her how well she knows the tunnels around here and the enemy movements, 'cause you're going to need an escape route to the west.

Give her back that patch of her fur and skin you cut off earlier, if it'd work to help her stem the bleeding and regenerate faster. Same for the cloth if she can stick it back on her cloaking suit.

Both of you are gonna have to wash off as soon as you can find a body of water. Fine blood spatter from Rokoa will have gotten all over the place during that fight, and that'll make you easy to track by scent.

And don't count on the next Rokoa you encounter being as easy to take down as this one. After this defeat, Vanski will likely insist the Rokoas wear at least extra head and neck armor, if not full armor.
>>
No. 504931 ID: f2c20c

Hey, we don't need to overkill the corpse. We destroyed all her hearts. There is no blood flow. The only thing they could do to save her now is immediate intensive care with a bunch of machines and shit hooked up to her. Chances are the salikai won't bother- he has tons of other forces and maybe even more than one active Rokoa. We don't even NEED to ensure a kill. We won't be here for the weeks or months it would take for her to recover from this, if she were to somehow survive. Keep in mind her head is destroyed too.

Don't waste any time mutilating the corpse.
>>
No. 504932 ID: d6ef5d

>Tell Moi to pull her hood off
Or maybe just ask her if there's an off switch.
>>
No. 504933 ID: 6d6209

>>504909
lungs too. then sever the head. then burn the body.
>>
No. 504934 ID: 9e1727

>>504931
I agree. Even if she was found right after we left, rushed in for medical treatment and brought back, she'd be out of the fight for days or weeks while she recovered. And if she has time to recover that long, our plan has already failed and it won't matter.

There is one other thing to check, mostly out of curiosity. See if you can find the tag or marker that indicates what level of bio-armor this Rokoa is wearing.
>>
No. 504936 ID: 6d6209

oh! the bioarmor! at the very least take that off. even if she's dead there no reason to let the next clone have it.
>>
No. 504958 ID: 431b3a

I wonder if it would be worth it to sacrifice a grenade, or one of her rockets, just to ensure that her corpse isn't intact enough for them to pull some transplant bullshit and get her working again.
>>
No. 504959 ID: c6319f

No dicking around with the body. We can't spare the time or munitions to cause further damage to a dead woman. Let it go guys.
>>
No. 504968 ID: 509e51

Add another tick to the "see a therapist after this mission" meter. Even if you don't like Rokoa, it's harder to kill something with a face and a voice you recognize, I'm sure. Would it help to think that Rokoa would probably prefer these clones to be dead? Or that, without what's probably just raw animal survival instinct or pure thirst for destruction, the clones probably don't mind being killed either? Probably not much.

I still wonder if the difference in the clone was psychological, or if it was linked to some permutation in the cloning process. We'll find out if we meet the other clone, I guess. Maybe we can talk to her next time: being unbugged and generally belligerent might make her amenable to dropping information, either willingly or by trickery.

See to Moi, first, make sure she's not going to panic some more in your direction, or run off. Then: looting!
>>
No. 504973 ID: d6ef5d

>>504936
Striping bioarmor off a body is kind of slow, and we need to get the hell out of here, quickly. (As nice as it might be to stick someone like Rokann in a suit). Maybe if we just cut it off of her as we talked to Moi, but even that is kind of pushing it. We're so dead if we get cornered here.

And I'm not particularly worried about them redeploying this particular piece of armor against us in the future. I mean, it's not like it's 97% and allows the wearer to survive an entire of salvo of artillery fire at point blank range with minimal injury.
>>
No. 504975 ID: 7ab45c

>>504973
Actually, I think its only slow if the subject is alive and can feel pain. The only reason I know of for removal being slow is the chance for the intense shock of, you know, literally DYING OF PAIN.
>>
No. 504978 ID: d6ef5d

>>504975
We don't have to move slow enough to avoid pain, but stripping someone out of a skintight (and skin-bonded) material still takes time. Especially on someone as big as Rokoa.
>>
No. 504981 ID: c344a7

It's probably not a good idea to tell Moi about the size of our group just yet: she was trying to kill us and the only other thing we know is that she's terrified of Rokoa. Whiiiich is totally expected for any sentient being.
>>
No. 505003 ID: c4e5c2
File 136561941779.png - (19.71KB , 700x700 , 290.png )
505003

"Moi. I don't feel like talking to air. Hit the off switch."
>"Oh right sorry for trying to kill you I thought you were a hunter!"
"That is fine. I have worked with people who have attempted my life deliberately."
>"Right and sorry for not doing much against Rokoa, s-"
"Please turn off your cloak suit."
>"I don't know where the off switch is! I mean, it's it's somewhere, but I can't find it! It's invisible. Yeah."

I don't think I am dealing with a well trained soldier here. I end up cutting off Rokoa's head all the way before wiping my knife on Rokoa's cleaner sections and putting it away.

"Here is a tuft of your fur and your bio armor. Sorry about the cut. You can put it bac-"
>"NO. It uses biotech and holy fuck it is painful! It is like 80%. It already hurts like hell just having it heal! Oh wait I guess it might not matter... whatever I don't really want to just shove a piece of me in me so keep it or.. whatever."
"Do the salikai have more suits that work like yours?"
>"Nooot that I'm aware of. It's apparently ridiculously expensive to make and they weren't expecting it to work as well as it did on me so they probably regret testing it on me."
"Can you simply pull off your hood?"
>"No."
"How do you eat and use bathrooms?"
>"PAINFULLY and as rare as I can."

Removing the non-charred parts of the bio armor from Rokoa would likely not take a great deal of time, but I spent long enough attempting to gather the bazooka missiles, and trying to carry the bio armor could be troublesome. Not to mention it smells like burned flesh. I do take a small strip of it, though, just to check it later for an estimation of its percentage.
Rokoa's bazooka had two shots that I take. She was not carrying any rations, but she had one grenade. Her goggles are completely ruined. I motion Moi for us to start getting back to the river. Her jammer stays on, but I stay outside of its small range so I can sense for hunters.

"You already must be tough to handle 80%."
>"Nnnnoooooo I am average, but the salikai hooked me up to a buncha things to keep my heart pumping and made the bugs keep me conscious. That was all painful enough before they put on the biosuit! Just eating is a huge ordeal, I can't ever take the actual whole biosuit off. I mean, piece by piece maybe, in a slow, methodical surgical kind of way, but that would take forever and just trying to rip it off would probably destroy my outer body. And me."
"You said you are bugged."
>"Oh, yeah, but not anymore."
"How were they removed."
>"Oh, right, I met some guy named Biles who's been trying to form a resist - "

I pause, and Moi catches my body language and gets quiet. There are hunters at the river. They are simply on standby for Rokoa to finish doing it. They hope that she dies somehow, but they are not hopeful. I imagine that they thought Rokoa was going after Moi, who hardly seems to be a professional soldier, and would not run into me.
>>
No. 505004 ID: 001618

could we sneak by them, I mean I'm pretty sure Moi could no problem with her suit and all but could you get by them as well. After we deal with them and get to a relatively safe spot we can start playing 20 question with Moi. It also seems we wont be able to get the awesome stealth suit from her now either unless you want to kill her but after what we want through just to save her that seems like a moot point.
>>
No. 505005 ID: eaf2f5

Backtrack and find an alternative route to the river, lets keep them guessing at what killed their Rokoa clone.
>>
No. 505006 ID: 431b3a

Part of me does not believe Biles actually got rid of his bugs and this is some form of horribly thought out back up plan so they could catch defectors or us.

The other parts call me crazy but admit that the idea has merit.
>>
No. 505009 ID: d6ef5d

>80% cloaking biosuit
Well, there's no way we're getting Polo into that thing, then. Pity.

>Biles
Hah! Not only did he free himself, but he's been freeing and recruiting science hivers? Which included somehow capturing invisible girl?

Hells yes. I knew I like that guy for a reason.

If we get out of this, we can have Moi lead us to him (assuming he's close?). We're better off working together with his group than separately.

>hunters at the river
Oh, well, the alarm isn't raised, yet. That's good, at least, although we only have so much time before they come to investigate. Could we not go, um, the other way? The river crossing isn't great for stealth (the only way to cross without being seen by the camera is to grapple across the bolder, and we'd be sure to be seen by the guards). And if we fight our way through, the alarm will be raised.

>>505006
The best argument against that is if they could do all this as an elaborate trap, then they had the means and opportunity to spring a much simpler and more effective trap.

Also, from the information we have, the bugs protect themselves by hijacking your instinctual reluctance to damage yourself. From what we know of Biles, if there's anyone who's trained himself to get past that, it's him (dude made clothes out of his own skin).
>>
No. 505010 ID: 431b3a

>>505009

It makes me remember the first Salikai we met and his philosophy about predators and neumono mind control / imprinting, a squad goes missing for a few hours, turn up later just fine and they only had radio problems, no idea of the massive amounts of information they gave out, a single Neumono goes missing for a day, turns up later absolutely fine, but days later at a specific predetermined time several high-priority targets are reduced to rubble, the Neumono in question only felt compelled to do it.

What I'm saying is, the Bugs and direct Predator control aren't the only things the Salikai can do to a Neumono, and we haven't seen Biles since we entered the tunnels where they both were bugged, and catching defectors is a very good long-term plan, especially if the "leader" is a hard-core survivalist expert, doesn't solely have to be us they are attempting to catch, as proven by Niamh or Korli and our recent catch.
>>
No. 505018 ID: d6ef5d

Oh, and hey. She was hiding things behind her back, before. You saw what was behind her (the cave wall) but not what was immediately behind her (her weapon). Her cloaking field has a radius past the surface of the suit.

Could we use that? If you stood close enough to her, could you hide behind her invisibility? If that works, it would be a great way to sneak past patrols (or, rather, let them walk right past you).

>>505010
Well, then all we can do is be cautious when we approach Biles for the risk it is a trap. And not give out information about the others or our plans prematurely.

Although, we've yet to see any actual evidence they ever got that long term programing kind of mind control to work. And if they had a more effective alternative, I think they would want to be using it on the hunters, seeing as the problems long term bug and four stripes use is starting to cause.

Part of me also wonders how segregated the different Salikai's research efforts were. Kiiu wanted us to give him test subjects he could make his knockout drug, but the other Salikai had plenty of science hivers and tribals. And the science hive abandoned development of the empathic relay because they didn't have a predator to work with, but Kiiu knew there were 3 predators in the caves above and was studying them. And the fact that he was positioned on the very edge of their base, alone and without minions, protection, or a zone to manage, still strikes me as odd. I'm not sure how much of his research or ideas would have actually made it back to the others.
>>
No. 505024 ID: 9e92c7

>>505003
do not lead Moi back to camp before we make sure she is truly unbugged. xray through the hole in the suite you made with your knife or make a new one, but without evidence i don't trust her, biles or their perception.
>>
No. 505028 ID: d6ef5d

>Don't trust Moi
If she really was bugged or controlled in any way, they didn't need to go through this whole game of her trying to kill us then hoping we would show up to rescue her from Rokoa to get her with Polo and lead back them back to our allies.

She has perfect cloaking. All she had to do was follow us.
>>
No. 505030 ID: 9e92c7

>>505028
unless they were trying to get us to trust her for some reason. are you going to count on a "they could have just.." with the salikai?
>>
No. 505032 ID: 735f4f

A bit of paranoia is good and all but suspecting everything just slows us down. We can work with people without letting them know all our plans.

Moi's story fits right in with what we know of the science hive. We do need to know how she was debugged after we get away from the hunters. With a permanent stealth suit grafted on I cant imagine they used the same method we did.
>>
No. 505037 ID: 9e1727

Quietly tell Moi you sense Hunters at the river, but they're not alarmed and are just waiting for Rokoa to finish. Then turn back and move as quickly as you two can to the other tunnel, but don't hold out much hope for it being clear. The Hunters know this tunnel section only has two entrances, and will have sent another group to guard the other one and catch the prey if it flees from Rokoa.

On the way, ask Moi how well she knows the tunnels around here, especially to the west, 'cause it's looking like the only way you are getting out of here is going to raise the alarm. You're going to have to slip and evade the Hunters and need to know which route is the best.

If there's Hunters when you get there, send Moi ahead to scout their position and come back. Perhaps if they're somewhat close together Moi could take a grenade, slip behind them, and throw it right in the middle of group.

>>505030
I'm inclined to agree. We don't want to risk that, for some reason, she and Biles were brainwashed into thinking that Biles somehow beat the bugs, and that he removed them from her, as some kind of long-term ploy by the salikai to find our group.

It actually might not involve cutting Moi up seriously to check. Cutting the bio-suit along the lips and having her open her mouth and tilt her head back so you could look down into her would cause the least trauma. She probably has to cut the bio-suit's mouth to eat anyway, so checking then wouldn't be much more painful than expected.
>>
No. 505038 ID: 9e92c7

>>505032
there are still so many holes in niam's story. we don't even know for sure biles managed to debug himself at all. niam is debugged but if he's wrong or lying and we lead a bugged person back than we could endanger everyone. They might be aiming for Moi to bug the group and for that they'd need the group to trust her.
>>
No. 505040 ID: d6ef5d

>>505030
Yes. Because it doesn't help to assume our enemy is stupid. Which is what burning lots of resources for little to no gain is. If they were behind this, then they just sacrificed the advantage of a having secret, perfect cloaker we knew nothing about who could have followed us everywhere and attacked at any time (waiting for the perfect moment, instead of a stupid one), and a highly expensive, slow to grow, and very dangerous Rokoa clone, and passed up the chance to just capture us for torture, interrogation, and/or control, all to plant an ally with us who might mislead or betray us (and who we might escape from or kill if and when she tries).

And they pinned it all on the chance we wouldn't kill Moi when she jumped us, and that we would actually risk going after her and rescuing her. And that neither she nor Rokoa would fuck up and accidentally kill us before the 'plan' came to fruition.

When they could have planted someone much easier (all Niam had to do was show up). Or captured us much easier. Or followed us or killed us.

You're making the case for the enemy having really detailed micromanagement, and the ability to accurately predict how individuals will react. Which we have pretty extensive proof is not their strength.
>>
No. 505042 ID: c4e5c2
File 136562702748.png - (26.39KB , 700x700 , 291.png )
505042

"Hunters. There are five of them, and they are not coming this way, but I do not think we can sneak by, unless, is it possible for me to hide behind you? You are able to hide both your jammer, which is surprisingly small, and your plasma blade."
>"Sorry no, the jammer is as big as it could possibly get, anything more and the suit won't defract the light! In fact, it may just end up making a warped image of you."
"Alright. Where were you cut?"
>"My lower thigh. Why? Er, getting kind of feely down the-"
"I know. I am painfully aware of this. I am checking for bugs. I doubt you are bugged, because if you are, then I would have no idea what the salikai are thinking, having you reveal yourself to me. But I seldom know what they are thinking, therefore, I am not taking a chance, regardless of how astronomically low it may be, and it will take mere seconds." I explain while I start finding her leg. She is not much taller than me, if at all.
>>
No. 505044 ID: c4e5c2
File 136562707535.png - (30.98KB , 700x700 , 292.png )
505044

...... and she is female, all right.
>"OW."

I find the spot. Even if she faked an 'ow', I doubt she could fake smudging some blood from the open wound onto my finger.
>>
No. 505045 ID: c4e5c2
File 136562711468.png - (14.89KB , 465x700 , 293.png )
505045

After looking through her wound like a window, I see no bugs, only her skeletal form which shows that I could see through the hole after all.

>"Happy?"
"... somehow, I am not, actually."
>"What is wrong with you?"
"That's personal. How well do you know the caves to the west of here?"
>"Uh, not really at all. I came from the southeast."

We may wish to go elsewhere, but it is not a short walk to the next river drop off, although south of here is the route that we took this morning, and they may not be heavily investigating the area that we already ran through.

Ultimately, however, I am reluctant to bring Moi back to my group, but if I am not going back as of yet, then I must decide where I am going to go.
>>
No. 505046 ID: eb682d

>Biles trying to form a resistance
Biles confirmed for badass. Paranoid speculation aside.

So we know now that the hunter hive hates Rokoa and wants her dead and also that the salikai don't have 100% control over all of them. We just killed Rokoa and received news that one of our allies is trying to form a resistance. There has to be a way for us to take advantage of this somehow. Maybe we could devise some sort of calling card to put on or near Rokoa as an indirect way of showing the hunters we're responsible. Since they hate Rokoa it's possible we can earn their respect and maybe incite some dissent among the salikai controlled neumono.
>>
No. 505054 ID: 001618

ask her were she has set up her camp and if she knows where Biles is as we haven't seen him since everything started to try and kill us.
>>
No. 505058 ID: d6ef5d

Our immediate goal is to move away from the scene of the crime. Eventually the hunters will move in to investigate, and when they find the body, to search the area (there will be a severe reaction to that, I think). For the moment, I think that means moving south and west (and once we reach the more interconnected area, we can choose to go east, west, or south).

>reluctant to take her back
Thankfully, that's a choice we don't have to make, yet.

Having scouted the exits, I think the thing we want to do is check out this Biles situation, and see if it's legit. Either you have more allies down here, or this is something you need to deal with.

Where is he (could she take us to him?), what's his plan, and how big a resistance has he built up? (Assuming she's not the only one he freed). What was her assignment- what was she here trying to do over here? Did he explain how he was able to debug himself? (We have our suspicions, but checking out his story will help the paranioa checks).

Don't provide information on your own plans if she asks except in very general terms (you were scouting and collecting materials for future endeavors). Don't say where you have the others hidden.

...and apologize for the awkward, rough treatment. You didn't mean to be cruel, but the situation kind of breeds paranioa.

Maybe ask what her area of science / what she was working on before they turned her into a test subject. Maybe she can fill us in on some of the stuff they're working on that Korli and Niam had less info on.

...actually, namedropping Niam is a good test, by itself. If she reacts badly, or insists he can't be trusted or something, than you know one of them is lying and an enemy agent.

>leave a calling card
...I'm pretty sure shooting Rokoa through the eyes is Polo's calling card, at this point. :V They'll know.
>>
No. 505084 ID: 5bf190

You could leave a message for the salikai in Roklona's blood. Maybe something like:

"Rokoa killed 3 salikai
I bested her twice
could have killed her
killed her queen
killed this one
give up"

... Actually, the numbers seem strange. The salikai over the radio way back when said Rokoa "killed three of his children", and the two remaining are a kid and father. So... where's the mother? Dead? Seems unlikely. Probably wouldn't have just left. Might be hidden, though, if salikai females are rare, given the edge-of-extinction problem. So is there another salikai around that we don't know about?
>>
No. 505090 ID: 9e1727

First choice of direction right now is to go and see if you can meet up with Biles. Ask Moi if she knows where he is, or if she has a prearranged meeting time and point with him, or a way to notify him to meet up.

But if she doesn't know how to get to Biles, then best to head south and west and continue on to exit 1 while checking for other routes for your group. Looking at the map back here >>503817, there's what might be a choke-point on the route to the west. May have to detour south loop back around to the northwest.
>>
No. 505096 ID: b53faa

>>505084

seeing as how this is kinda a covert mission, as satisfying and awesome as it would be to frighten the everloving SHIT out of some assholes, this shit is gonna have to wait until we can get uour bomb set up and transmissions killed.
Once our mission is finished, THEN we can start with the mind games.
>>
No. 505105 ID: f2c20c

>>505045
We are definitely taking her along, at least for the short term. The opportunity to contact Biles is just so good we can't at least try for it.

Ask her the same sort of questions we asked when we met Niam. Why'd she leave her boss, what's she planning, and most importantly, HOW DOES BILES DO IT?! How do you deactivate the bugs on your own? Don't tell her about Niam until we're reasonably sure she's on our side. Bring up the fact that despite the bioarmor being 80%, it didn't deflect your knife very well. Is it less protective than the rating implies, because the cloaking raises the rating? Oh god, I just realized... if they can make another one before we end this war... invisible Rokoa.

I say we head mostly south. If she's willing to tell us the general direction of Biles' base, we can go there too.
>>
No. 505134 ID: 57a559

>>505045
If we can get back to the ultrahive, or find Bile's resistance faction that hopefully has neumono's experienced in surgery, we can get her biosuit off. The salikai probably was commissioning a way to remove the biosuit with minimal damage possible, even if he didn't care for Moi's health or comfort, it'd be very practical, especially if he somehow wanted to create a near 100% biosuit on a Rokoa clone and preserve the soldier or experiment. Who knows, he might want to try and create a 200% biosuit and put it on her with these advanced techniques.

Hmm, I wonder if we can get most of the science hive out of here if they'll eventually be able to manufacture a painless biosuit down the line, interesting. This science hive is the most valuable group of scientists in the galaxy. Saving them will be crucial for a better future.

So, how does Biles do his magic? With the bugs?
>>
No. 505143 ID: c4e5c2
File 136564691368.png - (66.57KB , 700x700 , 294.png )
505143

"Will you bring me to Biles?"
>"Oh, sure." She says, and starts leading me south where we can go.
"Sorry for the treatment. By the way, I've found Niam."
>"Whoa wait really? No way, he was still in the hive when I got out!"
"How did you get out?"
>"Well they did test a complete invisibility suit on me. Annnnd I really hope my escaping didn't get them all beaten up or something."
"Either way, it was a clone of Niam."
>"Oh. Still! I guess. That's weird."
"Speaking of your armor,, your biosuit did not deflect my knife very well."
>"No, it doesn't even give me super strength or anything! It uses the biotech for the cloaking, and... that's really about it. It apparently does deal with x-rays and thermal and... I dunno. I'm more of an engineer of not-nano things."
"Now, I want to know how Biles got rid of the bugs."
>"Oh, er, I didn't ask. He, uh, just asked if he trusted me, said he may need to slice up a few portion of my bio armor. I said I do, except I'd rather he not slice up the bio armor. Then he knocked me out."
"That's it?"
>"Well he did something while I was out cold but I really don't remember it well at all. I do remember being woken up finding it really hard to breathe and on the verge of passing out, but I stayed awake for a few hours while the bio armor healed. It sucked."
"That...."

That sounds far sketchier than I would like. Moi turns visible.

>"Oh, there's the button."
>>
No. 505144 ID: 735f4f

Hmm could be that telling the person about what he was going to do will alert the bugs. But yeah not exactly what we were looking for.
>>
No. 505146 ID: f2c20c

>>505143
Well, we can scan her for bugs now. Not that I expect to see any.

It kinda sounds like Biles destroys selective organs to cause the body to... reject the bugs? I don't know. I think we have to talk to him directly.

Also she should probably turn back invisible afterwards, so long as there's not some limited battery life or something. Hang on, where's the jammer? And all her equipment?
>>
No. 505148 ID: 9ddf68

that's an iffy story for sure but right now the only thing we have going for us is just taking the bugs out one by one with a knife so if Biles has found a more effective way then I really think we need to learn it. Also we never really did tell her our name.
>>
No. 505150 ID: d6ef5d

No visible jammer. Art error, or is that integrated right into the bioarmor too?

>That sounds far sketchier than I would like.
Agreed. Wondering if it's too good to be true now. But the prospect of more allies is something we have to check out, as is the possibility of a better way to deal with the bugs.

>other questions
How big has Bile's resistance gotten?

More importantly, what are they up to? I kind of assume he had her out scouting around for some reason.
>>
No. 505158 ID: 57a559

>>505143
Hmm, must have something to do with the lungs or diaphram. What organ do the bugs like to hide in? The bones, the bone marrow, the veins or something else? Perhaps the bugs draw energy from oxygen in blood cells, Bile's damages the diaphragm reducing oxygen intake, suffocating the bugs to allow the host to survive.

Well, okay, I have absolutely no idea how the body works outside of a high school education so I'm just bullshitting. Broken diaphragm and reduced breathing ability probably doesn't reduce oxygen in cells or anything like that, I don't know. Still has something to do with the lungs and how they assist the body, however. If my theory is true, the bugs must use a unusually high amount of power that less oxygen for a small amount of time can kill them all. Bile's accidentally breaking his ribs escaping and damaging his lungs/diaphragm sounds incredibly probable with all that action in the jungle, he probably didn't even try fighting the bugs on purpose, just BAM, a tree falls on him or something. Crushed ribs/lungs/diaphragm. Passes out, wakes up conscious without bugs and puts two and two together, probably practiced on a few bugged neumono in the jungle to confirm the theory.

How long does it take for a neumono to repair damage to these organs? If it's quick, or redundant systems take over in a while for extra support, then I think we pinpointed the technique.
>>
No. 505159 ID: 76b151

Maybe the bugs automatically leave the host when they think its dead. Biles might induce a temporary death state and that would explain the pain and shortness of breath. It can't be healthy.
>>
No. 505162 ID: 9e1727

...That is rather sketchy, but there's a good chance Biles didn't say what he was going to do to not trigger the bugs. Or possibly in case she was captured so they couldn't get the knowledge from her and come up with a countermeasure.

Point out to her that unless she has good reason to turn it off, she should probably keep her cloaking turned on while we're in the field, just in case we're somehow spotted. That way the enemy won't be certain she's with you or not.

>Bile's resistance group
Ask how big it was, last she saw, and what's its composition and strength. More of her hivemates, or has Biles been capturing and debugging Hunters too?

>Engineer of non-nano things
Well, ask her what kind of things she did work on, and if they're relevant to your plans ask her for details and weaknesses. Anything in weapons, armor, vehicles, robotics, communication, or the construction and systems of the salikai's base would be helpful. Especially knowledge of any weaponry and armor you haven't encountered yet.

>How Moi escaped
But what kept Four Stripes from stopping her using the mind-bugs that were still in her at that point? Does the suit block the radio signal they use, so in conjunction with a jammer they lost control? Did they also gave her a mini-jammer for the test, or is the jammer integrated into the suit?

>"Knocked me out"
How the...? Aren't neumono notoriously hard to knock out? How the heck did Biles do that?

>"Really hard to breathe"
Hmmm... This might be a clue to Biles' method. Ask Moi if it felt like her lungs were regenerating from being completely wrecked, and what state her hearts were in. Also ask if she knows more about the mind-bugs; Specifically how they detect when their host has died, and how they react to that.

Perhaps the way Biles got the bugs out was to put the neumono host into a state where they were so close to death the bugs thought they were, and so most or all of them worked their way out the body, ready to be gathered and used again.
>>
No. 505163 ID: 8b9215

"Ever heard of the Infiltrator? The one that wasn't Rokoa and fucked up the Salikai something fierce."
>>
No. 505166 ID: d6ef5d

>how'd she walk off with the bugs still in her?
Well, as we saw with Rokann, they don't necessarily stay on all the time, or kick in unless ordered or triggered. I'd guess the science hivers are on a looser leash than the hunters so they can do their work effectively?

>details on the debugging procedure
Just wait for Biles. She doesn't know.

>>505163
I'm pretty sure the whole science hive knows who we are by this point.
>>
No. 505168 ID: 735f4f

If that suit is that perfect of a camo it could block both the empathy and the radio relays the bugs use. Thus when they tested it for the first time she would wander off without anyone activating the bugs.
>>
No. 505174 ID: 57a559

>>505143
oh god I got a second look at her
When you said she was a woman, you meant it!
Dem hips! Dat Ratio!
>>
No. 505175 ID: 450660

>>505143

Better idea: she's been in communication with him. Clearly they aren't using dead drops that could be found by an enemy in a place being carefully monitored, so there should be a way for her to contact Biles. If so, have Biles come to a designated location.

If he's as badass as Moi claims, he'll be proof enough and can confirm her. It'll also serve as assurance of his own state of not being compromised. But if Moi can contact him and if he can agree to come to us, then we must arrange a rendezvous in a location removed enough from our camp.

Paranoia or no, we still need to assume these two are potential threats.
>>
No. 505196 ID: a00410

>>505174
She looks pretty typical to me. Polo just has a very tight athletic build. The hole of the species is on the curvy bottom heavy side. And as usual Dirtbag why you so dirty?
>>
No. 505206 ID: f2c20c

Oh, and ask her what her specialty IS.
>>
No. 505256 ID: c4e5c2
File 136569931757.png - (15.49KB , 700x700 , 295.png )
505256

Art error - there is a small jammer on Moi's back.

"How many people are in Bile's group?"
>"Uh, 4, including him. Not many. Me, and 2 hunters he got."
"And what were you doing?"
>"Scouting to steal supplies and things. Maybe also to knock a hunter out, which is what I tried with you."
"....... I was ready to assume Biles simply punched you in the face until you got knocked out, but bugs prevent exactly that.. How did Biles knock you out?"
>"Er, shit, really? I don't know then. All I know is that it isn't really something I wanna remember, it was unpleasant."
"I will wait for Biles' explanation. Why did the bugs not stop you from escaping, since four stripes can communicate with them?"
>"I had a radio jammer on my way out with the empathy jammer, and the internal functions don't prevent me from doing stuff like escaping. Biles still has the radio, since I could only carry one kind of jammer while staying hidden."
"And what is your specialty in your hive?"
>"I make armor. I'm not the lead designer, but I help, so I knew a good deal about, say, that armor you had last time that I think Ohidi gave you. You're kinda questiony now."
"That was all. Thanks. Go ahead and go invisible again. I take it you got my sign language about being Polo."
>"Yeah I got it. I'm Moi, as you know." she sticks her hand out.
".... are you wanting something?"
>"A handshake, Polo!"
"What."
>"We shake hands. Because we met. I thought you were part of an ultrahive now? That's what people do."
... we grab each others hands and Moi shakes mine up and down for some reason.

We continue walking. I am able to direct us away from patrolling hunters. My group will likely become worried, as my scouting trip is going to take far longer than it may have sounded it should have been.
>>
No. 505257 ID: c4e5c2
File 136569932596.png - (32.77KB , 700x869 , 296.png )
505257

We go far south, hardly east. We end up in the hunting caverns that was off before, although they are huge enough that even if we did come down here, we may not have seen Biles. I do not see any creatures down here, although I can certainly hear constant noise. Moi leads me through small crags, quietly explaining that voklits are not uncommon to see around here.

>"And, we're in there. That big rock can be rolled to the left, and you can squeeze through." Moi whispers to me.
>>
No. 505259 ID: d6ef5d

>... we grab each others hands and Moi shakes mine up and down for some reason.
It's a human thing. A formal gesture of hello. Kind of like a hug, except a lot less intimate. Although I suppose you can be excused from picking up on some of the outsider social stuff since you spent your whole time since joining the ultrahive pretending to be dead.

>Maybe also to knock a hunter out, which is what I tried with you.
...by removing the head. If she had actually captured a hunter that way, sure, Biles could have debugged them, but they're have to wait for his or her head to grow back before they could help! Then there was the completely unnecessary jumping attack- a plasma sword doesn't benefit from the added momentum. All that did was make the exposed handle move fast enough for you to notice it.

Girl may need some covert combat pointers later.

>armor designer
Well, we're plenty grateful for that stuff. Greenie armors mark I and II have been invaluable.

>questiony
Any information we can get from people is pretty valuable in this circumstances.

>Far south
Huh. Alright. We're... actually not far from the salikai base. It's a strait shot to the west from here, if there's an unmapped tunnel that connects this section with the squiggles around the base.

We'll have to head back, after this. Can't let your allies get too worried about you, or start sticking their own necks out. Maybe if Niam or Korli got that chatter detector built they'll be reassured that there's no big spikes?

>Hiding place
Scan for cameras, and IR and X-ray the surrounding area quick for hidden enemies or some kind of trap.

Then point out that if they're hiding out, on guard, and expecting her to return, you run considerable risk of being mistaken for a hunter again if you just stick your head in.
>>
No. 505261 ID: 9ddf68

well then let Moi in first so they don't mistake you for an enemy or something. Also can you sense anyone in there or do you think they just have a jammer going.
>>
No. 505278 ID: c4e5c2
File 136570794906.png - (28.15KB , 1000x500 , 297.png )
505278

"Move the door with me and go in first, Moi. They may confuse me for an enemy, and they are behind a jammer."

She said the rock is rollable, but it feels more like we have to push it with brute force. I do not see any cameras or the like that would indicate there are any traps. I head in.

>"Welcome back, Moi. Who is that?" Biles says, on the other end, chewing on a bone.
>"It's Polo. You said you knew her, right?" replies Moi.
>"Yep. Hey Polo, and sorry, but I've got to ask something of you I'm sure you'll understand. Slowly take off your helmet and uncover your bioarmor's face mask, and stick your hands up in the air and stay still for just a moment, would you?"
>"Geez, uh, I didn't see any bugs in her." Moi says.
>"I'm not after her bugs."

He does not have any bugs on him, and neither does the other person at his side.
>>
No. 505282 ID: 431b3a

Y'know, despite his request probably being a simple act of trust, I just don't trust him, at all, could be simple proper facial identification, could be something is revealed in a neumono's eyes if they have gone under heavy brainwashing that we don't know about, could be that he is trying to make it ultimately easier to knock us out quickly, considering how fucking difficult it would be otherwise, with our helmet AND bioarmor on.

Paranoid rambling aside, he looks like shit.
>>
No. 505283 ID: eaf2f5

An odd request but i see no reason not to follow it.

Moi said there were 4 people in the group so one is missing.
>>
No. 505285 ID: d6ef5d

Hmm. If this is a trap, you're armored, and they're not. There's only one visible gun, and the one Moi has. You could take them, but you would take hits though. That position gets a lot worse when your head is exposed.

Don't comply just yet.

...what are you after, Biles? I'm not keen on being shot in the face or knocked out, and to my knowledge, none of the salikai means of mind control can be identified by seeing my face.
>>
No. 505286 ID: 04b86a

Have Moi take your gun, and tell Biles that we aren't still alive because of a lack of paranoia and would like his friend to set down their weapon, first.
>>
No. 505287 ID: 8b9215

"I'm going to get shot in the face, aren't I?"
>>
No. 505288 ID: d6ef5d

>>505286
Um, big no on handing our gun to Moi. If this is a trap, she's part of it.
>>
No. 505291 ID: 9ddf68

sure go with it for now just keep an eye out for someone jumping behind you to knock you out or something and if Biles says anything about it just say you've got this far by being paranoid and have no intention of stopping anytime soon.

Also ask him what he is looking for then.
>>
No. 505293 ID: 509e51

Just ask him to lower the gun first. Not put it down, just lower it. Him raising it again should give you time enough to dodge serious face damage, while not taking too long that you'll be gone before they can shoot you at all. It's a compromise.

Though, actually, if we just want him to trust us, then all we need to do is tell him we killed a Rokoa clone, and Moi can attest to it. A salikai agent wouldn't have done that.
>>
No. 505294 ID: 57a559

>>505278
You should buy her dinner first, sexy green man.
You'll take your helmet off but the hands bullshit is unnecessary, considering you're already 4 against one in a really cramped space. You can see her hands, and you know that if there's funny business on your part and you've got a new chest piercing.
>>
No. 505295 ID: fedc54

>>505278
"i heard you knocked someone out despite them having bugs. i need you to tell me why before i do that, Biles."
>>
No. 505297 ID: eb682d

Whoa now, hang on.
That doesn't look the slightest bit like Biles.

http://tgchan.org/kusaba/questarch/src/135452754775.png
>>
No. 505299 ID: 431b3a

>>505297

One would assume he covered himself in the slime, just like we and everyone else in our group has done, we haven't removed our slime because we are wearing armor and it isn't on our fur.

Same size, same eyes, same shape.
>>
No. 505300 ID: 76b151

Hes looking for signs of cloning. Or maybe brain darts.

I say comply with the facial recognization but go ahead and ask your questions while doing so. We ARE on limited time.
>>
No. 505302 ID: d6ef5d

Oh and

...and as I'm sure you understand, I'm wondering if you miraculously freeing yourself is too good to be true.
>>
No. 505303 ID: eb682d

>>505297
Unless Biles is the one sitting, in which case my mistake and nevermind.
>>
No. 505306 ID: 9e1727

Why would he want to clearly see your head and face? Unless... He's thinking the salikai have a Polo clone, which wouldn't be completely out of the question after he's seen or heard of the Rokoa clones. He's checking if you have some kind of cosmetic clone defect, like the Rokoa you fought had eyes that were not like the original Rokoa's.

Comply with his request, but only if his buddy lowers the gun. You understand what he's looking for, but you still don't like having a gun pointed at your head while you take your helmet off.

And keep an eye on your rear view camera until you take your helmet off, just in case someone is getting ready to jump you from behind.
>>
No. 505332 ID: f2c20c

>>505278
Do as he says.

A few other people here have caught on already, but I think I'd better reinforce the obvious conclusion. He's making sure you aren't in the process of turning into alt-Rokoa.
>>
No. 505334 ID: c4e5c2
File 136572551133.png - (13.33KB , 700x700 , 298.png )
505334

I raise my hands, but do not take off the helmet.

"As usual, I will admit I am paranoid, but that has been nothing but life-saving. Have your guard lower her gun."
>".... maybe the hands up are good enough for the time. I will admit that I lied, I am after your bugs."
He pauses, then continues talking.
>"Okay, I will believe you aren't bugged. I simply said otherwise to not trigger them."
"Moi can attest that I've beaten a Rokoa clone." I say, to which Moi nods.
>"I've heard about those. That helps. Nomi, lower your gun, all the way, if it will help." She does so. "Now will you remove your helmet, nevertheless?"
"Yes."

I do so, and he gets some goggles from a nearby box.

>"... alright. I can't get much more proof than this that you're clean, so I'll just have to trust you."
"How have you knocked out bugged neumono? Moi described it in a way I do not care to repeat."
>"Yeah, she.. I won't ask. The bugs can't be killed easily with electricity, but they aren't invulnerable to it either. Pumping enough electricity to knock out a neumono happens to be enough to get the bugs to not be able to keep them up. It doesn't harm the bugs past that, but it does temporarily put them in, I guess, some kind of defensive mode, in which they don't do much. Guessing, here."

"How have you been removing bugs from people?"
>"I just cut them out. They move around quick enough, so you just have to stab quicker. Can't just electrocute them more, cause you'll kill the neumono if you do it too much."

Moi shuffles incomfortably.

>"You don't remember much, Moi, right?" Biles continues.
>"Right."
>"Yeah, surprisingly little known thing, if you choke a person enough, they won't feel so much. Cause if you do it right, then the choked person will lose brain power, and as such, lose the ability to feel... well, feel as much pain. It's not perfect. Better than nothing, and given you get stabbed everywhere while metal bugs are treating you like a burrowing hill, you gotta take what you can get. Definitely less traumatizing in the long term since you won't remember much of it after you recover."
"How did you remove the bugs from yourself? They would trigger if you attempted the same thing."
>"Yeah that was the tricky part. I managed to escape some predator trying to fuck with me, but probably just like being choked, I don't remember much about that. I managed to kill a hunter with some wildlife some time later, pulled the corpse away, and watched how the bugs reacted. The divided bugs actually don't have much battery life on their own, which I think is their issue. Did a couple tests, and I figure that once the big disc gets in you and separates, the individual pieces use our body heat to keep them charged. So I figured if I could lower my body heat enough, they'd run out of battery. Least that's what I hoped, so I went for it. I dunked myself in some cold water and stopped my hearts, which got my body temp to start plummeting."
"How did you just 'stop your hearts'?"
>"Same way you or I stop breathing. Just take some training."
"I am not one to complain about beating our biology."
>"Yeah, I was told about your ability. I never was able to get that down. Anyway, I almost messed up thinking about how I was destroying the bugs, but I managed to focus and stop thinking about that to avoid triggering them. Just making myself freeze for the hell of it. Well, the bugs didn't go down right away or anything, but they started crawling down and gathered together, back in the disc form. Good enough, I thought, having them all clumped up. I guess they may use a whole lot more battery to be separated like that, or they were just trying to leave my body, but I didn't wanna miss the opportunity. So I stabbed myself in that spot and took them all out at once. Otherwise, like I said with everyone else, just had to cut them up a whole lot. They more or less stay near the surface, thankfully enough, and control the brain from as far from the brain as they can manage to minimize hard damage. Took a whole lot of bandages. Which is where my shirt is, if you're wondering. Bloody scraps here and there, now."
>>
No. 505335 ID: e493a6

Yeah we just tried really really hard not to get bugged in the first place. Anyway what did Biles do after he got his bugs out, just ran to the caves and started a resistance or is there a little more to it then that. We just grab everyone we could and started running around these caves until we found someplace that we could rest for more then 2 minutes without getting jumped. Then ask what his plains are and then if you feel like he can be trusted tell him your plain and see if he can help
>>
No. 505336 ID: 509e51

You should tell him that Rokann's been getting help, and get him up on the rest of the gang. It'll probably be a load off for him.

Also re-inform him on what predators can do in the way of hidden orders and such, just so they're all aware.
>>
No. 505337 ID: f2c20c

>>505334
That's... about the same way we've been debugging Rokann, except with a machine. How come he can do it so much faster? Wait, maybe it's not faster. We were having issues settling down for long enough to debug her. Ask how long it took and compare it to our results. Our method should be a bit faster, though it also sounds like near-freezing the neumono in question is the quickest method. That would require stopping hearts too, though... and starting them back up again after the disc is out/destroyed.

Also, Polo, I believe you could learn quite a lot from this man. You should definitely see if he'll teach you once we're out of this mess. He also seems to share your near-endless drive and willpower. You MIGHT even be able to help him go silent, though it could also require certain genes on top of the drive and mindset to do it.

Ask the recovered Hunter if their hive is controlled in any way outside of the bugs. We witnessed the Hunter queen speaking to a salikai, and he mentioned that there was brainwashing involved. Is just the queen brainwashed? Also mention the fight between Rokoa and their queen, and that their queen lost badly. We don't know how badly, but we can presume she is still alive since she is still useful to the salikai.

Finally, mention our base, and if Biles wants to relocate to us or if we should relocate here... or if we should just continue as planned and have the others escape while we stay behind to recover Hunters and form an opposition army.
>>
No. 505339 ID: d6ef5d

Well. We've learned some scary survival techniques, at least.

His explanations sound plausible, at least. Makes sense the bugs have limited batteries and have to tap their host for energy. Makes sense they might try to regroup or move on. And finding a way to knock someone out and numb the pain certainly would hasten the debugging process.

The only frustrating thing is we had two science hivers to work on this and neither or them thought of it! (Although, that sort of makes sense? If they were going to think of this weakness, they would have designed around it).

Actually, the biggest lesson here is the bugs aren't in complete control all the time. He could chose to stop his hearts and jump under water. Moi could chose to walk off. Etc. They have limitations- lapses you can take advantage of.

>what do
Tell him what's happened, in broad terms. Vern's dead, but everyone else is safe, hiding in the caves. Or at least they were when you left them. Including Rokann, although she's had to endure being held prisoner and a slower and conscious debugging. Katzati's attempt to radio the outside world failed- their ultrahive's leadership is compromised and they sent the hunters.

Your working plan was to sabotage the enemy communications system. Create a window during which the others can escape and contact the rest of the world.

What's his plan been?
>>
No. 505342 ID: 9e1727

Alright, Biles checks out as as clean and trustworthy as you can tell under the circumstances. Give him a summary of what happened after he ran/escaped, up until you came here, but leave out the details of where your group is. Also, tell and talk only to Biles here about the plan; You can't risk any other of his group being captured and interrogated before it's complete. If he decides to move his group to your group's camp in preparation to escape, they can be told when they arrive, but not before.

If Biles kept his mapper throughout all this, ask to borrow it to upload to your helmet's map. Also ask for any other mapping devices he might have captured.

Ask Nomi if there's anything else the Hunters brought down with them that you haven't seen already that'd help if you knew. Tell her a summary of what you've seen or heard of them having

When you get a moment, check the fight recording. Do it partly to work out the video playback and recording controls so you can use them quickly, and partly to see how badly the Hunter Queen was defeated.
>>
No. 505343 ID: 57a559

>>505334
So the only way to reliably cut them out all at once with minimal effort possible is to freeze someone and stop their hearts for a little bit? Which is actually quite difficult? Great, we were hoping for an EASY way to do it. Well, it'll be better than what we're currently doing with Rokann.

So... Biles and co., what do you think would happen to the bugs if we killed Four Stripes? The radio function stuff starts doing the controlling right? So we take that out, then what? Have we actually freed a brain in the hive yet? Because I think that should be priority in the middle of our little mission. We have a clone, Moi, and this green guy. Anyone in particular we should try freeing?
>>
No. 505345 ID: fb528f

Ask Biles if he knows about the Rokoa darts.
>>
No. 505347 ID: 450660

>>505334

Hasn't slept. Slightly emaciated. Fur looks like a mess. Has dyed himself in a camouflage color. Used one of two pieces of clothing as bandages. Stabbed the shit out of himself, nearly died, and practically became a meat popsicle to keep from being compromised.

Well, aside from looking like hell, he's definitely a badass. The kind of badass who would probably be a lot better off with the company of the guys he got separated from.

Let's bring him back if we can -- but first, we need to take care of a loose end:

Why was this science hiver bugged in the first place, and how did Biles know how the bugs functioned?
>>
No. 505348 ID: d6ef5d

>bring him back
I think I'd like to hear what he's been trying to do, first. Combining forces is one option, yes, but he may have another angle he's been playing. (And we don't necessarily want all our eggs in one basket).

>would happen to the bugs if we killed Four Stripes
Presumably, the same thing as if communication with the bugs is interrupted. They default to predefined orders and protocols.

...actually. That's an angle to explore. All three of them have been bugged. Just how free were they to take actions when the bugs aren't getting orders? If and when we take down the communication grid, how will the rest of the hunters react? (Punching out will be a lot easier if radio silence doesn't just confound our enemies, but give the hunters a chance to start trying to rebel or free themselves).

>Why was this science hiver bugged in the first place
Because science hivers keep betraying them. And are basically slaves. It'll the ones that are not bugged that will be unusual.
>>
No. 505351 ID: b53faa

>>505334
out of an entire quest of completely badass things, I think stopping your multiple hearts and freezing yourself before diving a knife inside you is the most hardcore thing we've heard so far.

Aaaanyhow, ask why he isnt trying a modified version of that method: Creating small circles of frost and sort of sheparding the bugs out of the warm areas, then slicing them out when they get close together?
>>
No. 505356 ID: 76b151

lack of the ability to make that i believe
>>
No. 505406 ID: c4e5c2
File 136579597848.png - (14.25KB , 700x700 , 299.png )
505406

"Plausable. But you have been taking out bugs through surgery? We have tried to do so, but it has been slow."
>"Have you been trying to be careful to do as little damage as possible?"
"Korli has probably been."
>"Sounds rough, but there's the problem. Can't be gentle."
"And what about stopping the hearts of another neumono to freeze them?"
>"Could work, would probably even be faster, but they'll be hurting. 10 open heart surgeries to apply clamps to keep them from beating, while bugs crawl throughout them, just to get stabbed. Faster to get the bugs out, probably, but not any faster for when they're able to be up and running in the end. Best to just use surgery."
"Right. How'd you find out about the bugs anyway?"
>"That's part of the memory fuzz, I remember seeing some neumono, and going in along with them. Predator, I think. Anyway, sometime down the line... could've been 10 minutes, couldn't been hours, I don't know, I knew somethin' was wrong with us, and I still had some multi vision goggles, found them out. Past that, just more or less made some educated guesses, till Moi came around to help with that."
"I've had two science hivemembers. I suppose Korli is too out of date, but the other should have known how to work around the bugs."
>"Sure, course, if they thought of that, they may've made precautions. Or they did, and just couldn't make them perfect."
>"Uh..." Moi interjects. "It was Niam, right? He wasn't one of our biotechnicians anyway, and the salikai really like to keep certain things all separate. You'd want, uh, Ciphik or Mirim I guess."
"I'll keep that in mind if you guys keep popping out. The salikai will likely be keeping all of you on a tighter leash now, so I won't expect much. The bugs obviously are not perfect, as you had some leeway in your actions."
>"Yeah. People can do stuff as long as they don't try to directly mess with the bugs. Pretty sure they avoided stuff like making sure they accept every order without question, since that would pave the way for some hilariously tragic semantic misunderstandings. The hunter's bugs, though, I'm pretty sure they were programmed to make their hosts avoid anything that might blow the bug's cover. Not all bugs have the same AI though, so that makes them hard enough to predict."
"Are you aware of the rokoa clone darts?"
>"Yeah, but only what Moi told me. Don't know how to fight that aside from don't get hit with a dart. I doubt that's perfect either, but hey, can't make assumptions."
"I heard you all had 4 people. Where is the fourth?"
>"Down the hole in the back here. She's a hunter, awake but recovering, as she was debugged not long ago."
"And just what are you trying to do down here?"
>"Wasn't sure. Whatever it was, couldn't do it on my own, so I was hoping to get enough of us to push out and radio for help. The rest of you guys doing well?"
"Rokann was bugged, but she is recovering out of it. Morale could be better, but everyone is healthy. We were also planning on pushing out."
>"Right. We can do that together. Don't suppose you guys have a plan, cause I sure don't."
"We do." I explain it to him, along with catching him up on events thus far since I last saw him. I also inform him of what the predators can theoretically do regarding sleeping agents and such things.
>"You should head back, then, and get those bazooka rounds to Niam."
"You can come back with us if you want. And you should get some sleep either way. You look like hell."
>"I'm better than I look, but yeah. I'll stick here. Easier to move around, and the salikai are probably gonna overtiming the hunters after your Rokoa stunt."
>>
No. 505408 ID: fedc54

>>505406
we need to set up communications, and we need to be able to escape together.
>>
No. 505409 ID: d6ef5d

All right. Time to head back before the others send people or out looking for you, or decide the risk you've been caught is too big, and decide to relocate. Let's try and take a more direct rout north and west to the river entry we want.

Not sure how we'll communicate or coordinate with them in the future, but we'll do what we can. Maybe we can come back this way on our way to plant the bombs? The Salikai base isn't too far away from their hiding spot.

Good luck, Biles.

Moi is free to stay with them (kind of makes sense for each group to have a sneaky scout at their disposal), or follow us if she really wants.

Should we offer to return Moi's plasma blade? As nice a weapon it is to have, it would be devastating if combined correctly with invisibility, and much better than her pistol. Possibly give her the pointers on how use it correctly- it's not a solid blade- a jump attack doesn't make the blow more powerful. It just leaves you exposed and off balance, and easier to notice. Try and keep the handle hidden until the last moment (cover with her over hand?)- that's what gave her away last time. And be careful around water- they have cameras at many of the river entries.
>>
No. 505412 ID: 735f4f

So if he originally escaped from the bugs due to a predator was it four stripes or is a native one living somewhere in these caves?
>>
No. 505415 ID: d6ef5d

Oh! And absolutely before you leave set up a new set of identification passwords with these guys. Niam may think it's unlikely the enemy has a clone of you, but let's not take any chances.

>>505412
I think he meant there was a blank spot in his memory where he was predator controlled before he broke free, not that the predator control was necessarily what gave him the escape opportunity.

Besides, if there were another predator by now, the hunters would have come across it, and the salikai would have it killed or captured.
>>
No. 505416 ID: 431b3a

>>505415

We can use different passwords for different groups! So if they DO have a Polo clone, and someone in one group is a traitor, they wouldn't be able to go after the other!
>>
No. 505420 ID: f2c20c

>>505406
Alright then. Time to move. Get back to base and tell the others what happened. I do think we should return the plasma sword, since Polo is not exactly a melee fighter, and Moi has no gun anymore.
>>
No. 505422 ID: f2c20c

>>505416
They don't have a Polo clone. Polo was never incapacitated near the salikai long enough for them to collect her brain matter. Also keep in mind they thought she was dead until recently, and we know that Polo's ultrahive is NOT bugged. It's just the military ultrahive that we were supposed to give aid to.
>>
No. 505423 ID: 431b3a

>>505422

But I thought the Admiral that gave us our mission was a part of Polo's ultrahive, and HE was bugged?
>>
No. 505427 ID: d6ef5d

>>505422
We don't know for a fact they do not have a Polo clone, and it costs us nothing to establish passwords as a precaution against possible infiltration.

>>505423
Huh. You're right, that's an inconstancy. The space station was explicitly said to belong to Polo's ultrahive, and the Admiral's dialog implies he belongs to the same (he uses "we" when talking about Polo's ultrahive, and "another ultrahive" sending the inspection team, not "my").

...you know, these ultrahives might be easier to keep strait if we knew their names. :V
>>
No. 505428 ID: 9e1727

Now that Biles' group knows you're going to be staying behind while the escapees run for it, ask them to give thought to staying behind with you; Especially Moi. Because if the opportunity to take down the salikai on your own doesn't present itself right after the radio links are blown it's looking like you'll be down here for awhile fighting a guerrilla war until reinforcements arrive, and making sure the salikai don't somehow slip away again. While you might be able to do it on your own, having backup will help immensely.

Give Moi back her plasma sword, if you haven't already, along with some pointers on how to effectively use it; She won't be as lucky with her next opponent as she was encountering you.

Before leaving, ask Biles if he has a spare or busted Hunter helmet you could take. You could take it back to possibly get more map data extracted from it. It'd likely be of the area more around here, but it might be useful.

On the way back to camp, stick to the west and south for a bit to see if there's any tunnels heading towards the salikai's base area that aren't on your map, then turn north-northwest towards the lake south of camp. Maybe there'll be a route to it from down here.

Outside thought about extracting the bugs: Do neumono field medics carry, or field hospitals stock, a shrapnel and bullet extraction instrument? Something that has a gripper prong on the end of a stalk, and maybe an electromagnet, to stick into wounds and pull such things out before the wounds heal over? 'Cause if so, getting one of those could speed up extracting the bugs, compared to making cuts big enough to get enough neumono sausage fingers in to snag the bugs.
>>
No. 505437 ID: 9ddf68

ok we reconnected with Biles and have a group B down here now as well which is an extra pair (or more) of eyes and ears. As for a simple way to stay in communication why not leave drop zones like we did before we were split up and hid in the caves. You know just have little nooks and crannies were we can stuff notes and other supplies that can be easily and effectively hidden by placing rocks in front of them. It may not be perfect but other then sending someone from either group running from base to base acting as a runner I think that's the best we can do for now. If you do go with the drop zone plain just ask Biles were he thinks good areas would be to place them and what should we put by them to make it look like part of the cave but still point out DROP ZONE for those who know what to look for.
>>
No. 505447 ID: c4e5c2
File 136581018411.png - (17.26KB , 700x700 , 300.png )
505447

Before I go, we exchange map data. There is little extra of note due to Moi not bringing Biles' mapper with her, and has to do with the surrounding region. To Biles' awareness, there is no tunnel that leads to the salikai base directly from here. If that is the case, then Biles is not close at all. We also exchange meeting passwords in case I, or anyone, is cloned.

I also spend some time telling Moi how to properly use a plasma blade. Jumping attacks are usually not viable in normal circumstances, no matter how strong ones legs are, and I give it back to her.

I still do not know what the status of the Admiral was. I do not know the politics on and surrounding him, and chances are, I will not manage to find out. The ultrahives are effectively made to be peaceable towards each other through galactic overseers, so we do work together. It would not surprise me if there were high officials on the ship I went to from both hives, between mine which is called the Neumono Tree, and the other ultrahive, the Neumono Coalition, or simply the Tree and the Coalition for short. They are fantastically mediocre names, due to no one being able to agree on anything of any association early on. Movements to change the names have failed, since tradition struck. In any case, I cannot worry much about this until the opportunity presents itself, either through sabatoging the salikai or otherwise.

"Should we bother with a drop zone?"
>"Nah." Biles says. "That was just so we didn't leave stuff completely out in the open when we didn't know where the others were. Well, we can sort out locations to leave stuff in case one of our hideouts are compromised, so it'll work as a backup spot."
"Alright. I will be back some time later if I work out a time for our escape plan."
>>
No. 505448 ID: c4e5c2
File 136581019899.png - (109.07KB , 1549x1108 , 301.png )
505448

Heading on my way back, I see a tunnel that heads into the direction of the salikai. There is a camera pointing inward to it, though, which spikes my suspicions that it could lead to the salikai base. But there is little I can do without giving away my location or camera interference.

>Do neumono field medics carry, or field hospitals stock, a shrapnel and bullet extraction instrument?
Yes, that is how I removed Viln's bullet, and what Korli has been using to extract bugs. The bugs simply have moved too fast for her, apparently, between making an incision down to the bug and getting in there with the extractor. We have not been using our fingers to pry.

I will have to route my way back. Either the way I came, or attempt something else altogether.
>>
No. 505450 ID: d6ef5d

>camera blocking
...it would be so nice if we had a way to circumvent those. Hack them or something.

>route back
Well, going back the same way you came is kind of the long way around, and will take you back to the Rokoa corpse. Where the patrols are probably heightened. In fact, the other Rokoa(s) may even be out looking for revenge.

...oh gods, it won't be good if they have more than one of them, and they're willing to work together.

So... when reach the area that looks like a bunch of overlapping squares, head NW instead of NE towards the exits you scouted.
>>
No. 505468 ID: f2c20c

>>505448
Let's just hug the left wall for a while, heading northwest, and see where that gets us.
>>
No. 505482 ID: 2f4b71

>camera blocking

I wonder how programmable Moi's suit is? If she can step in front of a camera, then 'freeze' her suit's display, everyone can run past, then she can unfreeze it and keep going. Of course, that relies on her keeping perfectly still, and there not be anything moving in the background (e.g. running water).
>>
No. 505484 ID: 9ddf68

hey for blocking the cameras do you think you could just move a picture or a video screen in front of them of that just showed the cave before you went down it, or do you not have the materials for that?
>>
No. 505485 ID: d6ef5d

>>505482
Oh hey, I like it. A lot more high tech version of the old stick a Polaroid in front of the security camera trick.
>>
No. 505498 ID: 9e1727

While you could head north then ride the river back south to get past this camera, you have no way to check for a camera watching over the riverbank without sticking your head out of the water. That pretty much makes taking that route a non-starter.

>>505482
Her suit probably could do that, but whether or not the designer thought to include that feature and she knows how to activate it is unknown. Though it'd be valuable enough to head back and find out for sure, while Biles' hideout is still relatively close by. Might offer you a way to get in and scout out the area around the salikai base beforehand and not have to do it on the fly.

However, if that doesn't pan out, follow the west wall north, up and around to the west to scout all the tunnels that lead to the more open area around the salikai base. You need to check if any of them don't have cameras, 'cause if you can't find a way to get in there without detection, the plan is going to be in serious trouble.

>>505484
It wouldn't work unless the image on the screen moved so the area obscured by it would match up perfectly with what the camera was seeing as the display was moved across the camera's field of view. Also, the display would have to be completely frame-less, which is a feature we haven't seen any display around here have.
>>
No. 505506 ID: d6ef5d

You know, even if that could work, do we really want to do it now? We run the risk of getting bogged down scouting near their base, and we kind of need to get back before our allies overreact to our not returning on time, and either risk send people looking for us, or assume we've been killed or captured, and move before we can give away their location.

We can scout the tunnels around the base when we go back to confirm times and stuff with Bile's group before the mission.
>>
No. 505516 ID: 9e1727

>>505506
Yeah, you're right. But still, the tunnels into the area around the salikai's base are eventually going to have to be scouted and checked for surveillance before starting the clock on the escape mission. Don't want to find out there aren't any ones reachable in time that don't have cameras watching them.

Best to head north, cross the north-south river, and follow the west wall to the west-northwest to see if there are any unmapped tunnels heading towards the salikai's base over there. Then once you reach that small cavern to the southwest of the "boxy" tunnels, turn to head due north, and cross the trail your group took to head west. You're going to search north, then west, for tunnels that connect to the rivers and that lake south of camp, and hopefully find a way to get back south from the camp without having to go all the way around to the northeast again.
>>
No. 505529 ID: d6ef5d

Oh! Hey, maybe we won't even need to drag Moi around to try and use her as a camera deceiver. Maybe if we let Korli and Niam fiddle with the swatch of fabric we cut off of her, they can make that work? All it needs to be able to do is cloak, pause, and be big enough to cover a camera lens.
>>
No. 505586 ID: 847265

Polo, I'm wondering. Do you actually go silent when you go silent, like full suppression of your empathy, or is it more that you shift your empathy into a higher or lower frequency that isn't "audible" by any of the creatures that normally use it?

I ask because it seems like even jammers don't really fully jam your empathy, just press it back into your skin. And I know sleeping neumono are on a different "frequency" that's hard to hear for those who are awake, but just as accessible or even moreso to other sleeping neumono. I'd guess it's a lot easier to shift the frequency of your empathy than entirely turning it off?

The answer is important, since if it's a matter of frequency shifting, the science hive/salikai could have built machines to still detect your presence.
>>
No. 505734 ID: c4e5c2
File 136597942695.png - (20.46KB , 569x569 , 302.png )
505734

>Do you actually go silent when you go silent, like full suppression of your empathy
Yes. The empathy flow that turns into external waves simply shuts off. Jammers simply dissipate them quickly after they leave the skin.

>Use Moi to block the camera
That may work. Unfortunately I did not think of this sooner, so I will have to propose this idea later, as it is extremely likely that they have surveillance in just about every cave leading up to the salikai. I am sure that I will visit Moi and Biles before the escape plan is confirmed, so there will be another time for that.

I find one more tunnel that leads to the salikai base, but only far north, right next to an already known entry. There is another camera watching it, so I keep moving, this time going north to seek out tunnels heading up to the lake.

My back camera blinks at some point, and I flip around.
>>
No. 505736 ID: c4e5c2
File 136597944209.png - (18.07KB , 700x700 , 303.png )
505736

Shitall, there was a camera at my goggle's blind spots that wasn't seen till it was right on me! I am positive I've been spotted.
>>
No. 505737 ID: 9ddf68

smash it and run, just take a roundabout way (even more roundabout) when heading back to camp, if you move fast enough I'm sure you'll be able to avoid most of whatever they are about to throw at you.
>>
No. 505738 ID: eaa6fc

if we're lucky maybe that camera isn't being currently monitored? other then that at this moment there isn't much we can do other then hide any tracks leading us to our hiding place
>>
No. 505744 ID: f2c20c

>>505736
Shoot it with a pistol round then let's get the hell out of here. Head towards Exit 1. Since it's on the way, we may as well scout it.
>>
No. 505747 ID: 8b9215

Keep walking like seeing one is a normal thing. When out of view run like hell.
>>
No. 505749 ID: d6ef5d

...walk past calmly and hope whoever is watching the camera feeds is unobservant and mistakes you for a hunter. (Or that the CAI or science hiver on duty is secretly rebellious and makes the mistake on purpose?).

Don't break it. Then you go from probably spotted to definitely- there's got to be an automated alert for when cameras go offline. (And shooting it is even worse- don't waste precious ammo on a camera!)

Once out of the line of view, run. If they made you, anything nearby is going to be coming for you. Use your knife to check around corners- or else you run the risk of running right into something that doesn't give off empathy running right for you. (Alien troops, monsters, jammed hunters, or jammed Rokoa(s)).

Speed, evasion between multiple tunnels, and stealth are your primary weapons here. You do not want to resort to combat again if you don't have to.

If you're lucky, their forces will be too spread out, and too concentrated on searching near the Rokoa corpse you left, to respond in time to pin you.
>>
No. 505751 ID: f2c20c

>>505749
A) The CAI is probably monitoring the cameras, or they are set to ping when they detect motion. If we're within the sight of the camera, then we've been spotted.
B) We have a surplus on pistol ammo.
C) Acting casual is only good for hiding that we can spot cameras, and we just looked directly at it, so that option's out the window.
>>
No. 505753 ID: d6ef5d

>>505751
a) Even if the CAI or another notices movement automatically, someone still has to look at the image and determine friend or foe (since they have a lot of troops moving around). There's a small chance they'll miss-ID us as a hunter, or fail to report us out of disloyalty.

b) Our ammo is finite. There is no such thing as a surplus, especially for unnecessary tasks. Or one that could be accomplished in other ways (we could just smash it by hand)
>>
No. 505758 ID: 450660

>>505753
>>505751
>>505736

We somewhat closely resemble the salikai's own units right now. If we just continue on like it doesn't matter, we may go beneath immediate notice. Just BE ON ALERT for possible hostiles.
>>
No. 505778 ID: 735f4f

Sadly we did notice the camera and then flip around to stare at it like a idiot. Pretty sure any of there troops would have just ignored it.
>>
No. 505781 ID: af8414

Keep walkin' like it ain't no thang
>>
No. 505783 ID: b53faa

>>505736
act like you heard a noise like any other trooper would, investigate behind the rock, then shrug and act like it was nothing.
With luck, they will fall for this CLEVER RUSE.
>>
No. 505792 ID: 9e1727

Yeah, it's pretty much certain that anyone who's watching through that camera is going to ID you as Polo, what with the short stature, nearly unique sniper rifle, you being on your own, (you looking right at the camera,) plus the two rockets you looted from the Rokoa's bazooka on your back, but there's always the slim chance they won't, so don't sprint away just yet. Turn back like you thought you heard something, then sprint once you're out of its field of view.

However, if you are identified, you only hope for the alarm not to be raised is if the CAI intervenes is the one who spotted you and hides this for some reason, or whoever or whatever is watching is disloyal to the salikai and does the same.

You might be able to misdirect them if you think you can climb, step, or grapple hook your way over that camera's field of view. If so, then walk forward out of its field of view, then turn around, sneak back the way you came, and then run for it. If they take the bait, they'll send forces north first, maybe leaving you time to get back into the area to the east with more branching tunnels to evade them.

But if you can't get around the camera's field of view, then you have no choice but to sprint north as fast as you can; You can figure out which way to go once you get to the intersection.

Either way, get your rifle off your back and have it ready, and check all corners and bends with the knife before proceeding.

And when you get back to camp, remember to get Niam and Katzati to modify the camera detection software so it makes a unique noise as well as labeling it when it detects a camera for sure, so it'll be less likely you'll catch it out of the corner of your eye and spin around.
>>
No. 505799 ID: 87ec5e

Given future storage capacity, the cameras probably all record all the time, so shooting it out is useless, now, it'll only give whoever's watching more reason to notice you.

Your only hope is that, on the other side of that camera is someone disloyal, incompetent or very bored, who either won't want to take note of you or won't be interested in doing so. Although it's unlikely, to work, pretending you're a hunter would be best. It's a pity you flipped around to look at it so obviously.

... Give a thumbs up?

Or if you don't want to bet on any of that, go in the other direction to where you want to go and then come back whilst avoiding the camera this time, so they'll be misdirected.
>>
No. 505900 ID: c4e5c2
File 136605756344.png - (24.66KB , 700x700 , 304.png )
505900

"Computer, please create a special ping for camera detection. And please say Camera in the back camera, not just in the front."
"Completed. Extra note: My name is Bell."

I think I am getting sassed by my goggles. The camera has good vision towards the tunnel ahead of it, so I will not be able to move forward than sneak backwards. Therefore, I simply go straight back south to take, hopefully, a more roundabout path.

And then I book it and hope for the best. I doubt much will be gained by keeping a cool look, and likewise, I doubt much will be gained by destroying the camera either.

There's no lucky break. I get some distance before I hear loud footsteps coming from northwest. Either they are loud, jammed neumono, or something else. There are no good hiding spots in my immediate vicinity, and I believe they are running.
>>
No. 505908 ID: 001618

think you can outrun them? if so do that if not then just start running back and take a side tunnel to try and avoid them and if that won't work then I guess all you can really do is dig in and hope for a small force.
>>
No. 505909 ID: f2c20c

>>505900
It's a Vernaut, or multiple Voklits. Either way, it's a battle we shouldn't fight.

Turn around and head south to that intersection. We'll try to lose pursuit.
>>
No. 505917 ID: d6ef5d

>Bell
Oh, so Poka was an activation keyword, not a name? Bell takes less syllables to say than computer or helmet, I suppose. Slight efficiency improvement.

>footsteps
Dang. No lazy, unobservant, or traitorous cameramen on duty.

Well, you're almost certainly smaller than whatever is coming. It's highly doubtful you could outrun it if you turned around (and if she ran south, the enemy would come around the corner to the north and see her, and open fire, before she got away. Look how close they are to the bend. And for all we know, south is a dead end). And there aren't any branch points near enough to lose them in. And you just said there's nowhere to hide.

That leaves one option. Combat.

Run to the intersection directly in front of you (to the east), and take cover facing the north. Prepare to shoot who or whatever it is when it comes around the bed to the north.

Large, audible footprints mean something big. Either another Rokoa, an exceptionally big hunter, one the the giant tribal neumono, a voklit, or one of them mutant mikliks.

For most of those, an explosive round sounds the right response to end the fight quickly. Although a mutant miklik might go down to lesser rounds- the bigger ones are actually supposed to be sort of fragile. Same goes for an unarmored voklit, actually.

If the target appears really hardened (or is a lot of things- a whole crowd of spider bots, or a full troop of hunters riding an armored voklit or something) feel free to lob a grenade, instead. Positioned at the apex of that curve of the tunnel, that blast would be pretty hard to avoid.
>>
No. 505936 ID: 9e1727

First choice here is to not get into a fight if you can help it. If you think you can run back the way you came to the previous intersection and head south without this enemy catching up or getting a line of sight in for a shot, do that. Especially if the tunnel you're in is, or has sections that are, too small for one of those vernauts to fit through.

However, if you don't think you can get away, you're going to have to fight, but the objective is to knock down the oncoming enemy enough that you can get past them and leave them in a state they can't follow. You don't have to spend precious time and ammo to kill them if you don't have to.

Run forward to the intersection, take cover on the north wall, and knife-check to the north, and to the south as well in case there's an enemy that's not noisy right around the corner in that direction. Also note the pattern of the footsteps and whether it sounds like two, four, or more feet.

What you do depends on what you're facing, though. A voklit size or smaller unarmored or armored non-neumono can be taken down by a precision regular or AP shot, respectively. A single vernaut, giant neumono or a Rokoa can be neutralized with an HE round to the face. But if it's a group, you're going to have to break out the grenade to push through.
>>
No. 505940 ID: 5bf190

>>505900
>either loud, jammed neumono, or something else

Well, then it's not a grottle or vernaut, since I assume that means they sound like two-legged footsteps, unless they taught a vernaut to stand on its back legs. "Loud" means they're not arkots, who'd be too small, and unlikely to be miklik, either, as (I assume) they're much lighter and the difference between their scrabble little feet and your big pads would be enough to tell by sound. That means neumonos or voklit. Or aliens.

Is it one person or many? Your language is ambiguous. If it's one person, it might be the other Rokoa clone, since it seems unlikely anyone more directly under the salikai would be sent to fight you alone. Could be Viln come racing back to help you out for some crazy reason, but I think he'd be stealthier. Most voklit probably would be - given the size difference I'd expect them to be able to catch up to you even with a stealthy half-run. And I don't know, something about voklit posture seems to me like they could run on all fours if they wanted to really leg it, but maybe I'm wrong.

Keep an eye out for small passages that you can only just about fit into yourself.
>>
No. 506144 ID: c4e5c2
File 136615944023.png - (38.29KB , 800x700 , 305.png )
506144

>AI's name, Poka/Bell
Poka was the activation name. I presume it would have been 'Bell', except someone saw fit to name the AI after a noun.

>Your language is ambiguous.
It is, because I am uncertain, at least from an initial glance. I move back fast to listen more carefully. There are two pairs of steps. Either there are two large beings, likely voklits, or there is a Vernaut that has the funniest run.

I sprint up to the intersection and have a look around.

Two voklits, I notice, and two... mikliks, perhaps? They run strangely, but mikliks are strange, and they are too wiry for neumono... Pomi. The salikai have, of all things, Pomi. Then again, it is likely that the hunters have aliens in their ranks. The voklit do not care to be stealthy. I imagine that they are able to run well on all fours, but they may not wish to outrun the two others, and prefer to keep their guns out anyways. They are all well armed, aside from the usual Voklits running around wearing stuff they found lying around in the forest. I do not see any others outside of those four.
>>
No. 506146 ID: 735f4f

What are the Pomi's strengths and weaknesses? The Voklits are unarmored and lack your regen abilities but what are we looking at for the other two?
>>
No. 506147 ID: d6ef5d

Ugh. Well, you can't outrun voklit. And it's going to be even harder to outrun bullets.

At least they're all relatively fragile species, compared to some of the things you could be facing. They die when shot.

...I kind of hope the Pomi are bastards working for the Salikai, and not saps working for the hunters with no idea what's going on. If they are saps that's unfortunate, seeing as how you don't have much choice here.

You could kill either voklit with a normal round to the head, and either Pomi with an AP round to the head or torso. But you'll only get one or two that way and then you'll be pinned down by machine gun fire.

Open with the grenade, and do what you have to do with your rifle during the confusion.

Purple and pink voklit has a big backpack of supplies. Could be concealing a jammer? If so, there might be a cloaked hunter with the group. Be sure to check IR at some point.
>>
No. 506150 ID: f2c20c

>>506144
Great, now we have no choice but to fight. At least it's only 2 voklits. We should be able to shoot them quickly. From experience we know that Voklits may be big, but they aren't particularly tough if you hit their organs. A headshot each with normal rounds will take these out.

It's the Pomi hunters we need to be careful of- they've got armor. We could try testing our normal sniper rounds on these guys to see how well they work versus that type of armor. If it doesn't work, an AP round each will do; unlike neumono, Pomi can't tolerate headshots. Hang on, Pomi can't be bugged or predator-brainwashed. These are just mercenaries? Maybe we can get one to surrender... unless they have, like... radio-controlled bombs in their heads.

At any rate, I say take out the Voklits first since their guns will tear through our armor. The Pomi seem to have small arms, so we should be fairly well protected against their shots and can take our time with them.
>>
No. 506154 ID: d6ef5d

>>506146
>Pomi have great instincts, knowing when they're being watched or similar knowledge without realizing how they know it. Unfortunately, a lot of those instincts seemed to be dependent on a wild upbringing, and childhoods spent on a computer, for instance, will stunt the growth of those instincts despite supposedly being born with them.
Other than that, I'd say better average reaction time than a neumono, but probably less than a miklik. Probably more fragile than mikliks too, since they can't luck into reinforced skin mutations and stuff. They haven't shown much capability for taking bullets (see- Piles, and original timeline Jules).

>>506150
Yeah, if we opt not to grenade (though I still like that), opening by headshoting the voklit is the right response. Actually, if we do it right, we could pin the Pomi under them. (Otherwise, the Pomi are gonna be using the bodies for cover).

That's science hiver armor on the Pomi though, like ours. I wouldn't except normal rounds to do a lot of damage to that. (Although if our rifle is powerful enough and we're close enough, maybe).

Regrettably, we don't have time to deal with taking prisoners or finding out what the aliens know, or who they're loyal too. If we get the chance to leave them disabled but alive (as we've tried to do with other hunters) we will- but we don't have time to hesitate or fool around.
>>
No. 506164 ID: 509e51

What is that big thing on the voklit's back, just a pack, letting the big guys carry all the gear? If there's a chance it's a jammer there may be neumono coming up behind them that they're covering for, but I think jammers usually have antennae.

Keep in mind, given all the chances they've had to kill you, they probably want to capture you. Of course, given you're a neumono, that probably still means shooting you. And for all we know, the no-kill directive comes from the older salikai, Vanski, because he wants revenge or to make clones of you or whatever. Ohidi always seemed more practical, and if he got the chance he might just dispose of you. Best not to make bets on their willingness to avoid killing you, then.

There should be places somewhere where you can fit through and the voklit can't, at least in the natural caves. It won't stop the Pomi, but it shortens the odds.
>>
No. 506202 ID: 9ddf68

do you think if you place a well aimed AP shot you could get a head shot on both voklits? if not just use normal ammo and head shot both of the two voklits and also us the same ammo to try and take out the visors on the Pomi, hell you might get lucky and the shot well be enough to knock them out. also make sure you use your IR to make sure there aren't any cloaked assassins around.
>>
No. 506219 ID: 9e1727

Too close to outrun them now, and no place to hide. You're going to have to fight.

Possibly a jammer in the pack on the back of the first voklit. Scan for cloakers.

Don't even think about these pomi having come down with the Hunters and are unwittingly aiding the salikai; Just looking at this situation says they are not. If they were, they'd know something was very wrong the second they saw a heavily armed voklit like the ones right next to them, and the salikai wouldn't trust them not to try and run either. So they are either from the salikai's own forces, or were salikai agents with the Hunters, or were with the Hunters and the salikai have some kind of brainwashing tech that works on pomi. Any way you cut it, they will not be able to be talked out of shooting you in the time you have here, and so are the enemy.

You're going to have to take out the voklit first to make sure they can't use their giant MGs on you. But while you might be able to pull off a headshot on both of them, that'd still leave the armored pomi in your way. They'll be putting suppressing gunfire in your direction and probably advancing on the corner to get into close combat range. You'd have to throw a grenade around the corner to stop them without getting hit by a hail of bullets.

In light of that, best to lead with a grenade to take them down. You know how fast they're moving, so you ought to be able to cook the grenade and throw it at just the right time so it explodes in midair right in the middle of their grouping. That'll take out the voklits, and if it doesn't kill or cripple the pomi, it'll definitely knock them to the ground. Then swing out and put an AP round into the head of any pomi that looks like it'll be able to get back up and chase you any time soon. Don't shoot unless you have to, to conserve ammo.

Don't forget to take at least a cursory check of the gear they're carrying. Check what that voklit was carrying in the pack, and keep an eye out for grenades to loot.
>>
No. 506232 ID: c4e5c2
File 136618131468.png - (26.30KB , 700x700 , 306.png )
506232

There is little way for me to tell what is in the voklit's bag, but I can only hop some useful supplies.

I will not be able to use IR or other special vision without poking my head out, so I will do so when I am ready to shoot, and to make sure no cloakers come around the corner first.

Although I only have one grenade, this would be an excellent time to use it. Timing the cooking of the grenade is easy enough given the voklit's loud footsteps. It is thrown, and one of the Pomi immediately yells out "'nade!"

To which both pomi duck and cover. The voklit must have been trained to do the same, as they do as well, if with slower reaction. The grenade does explode as soon as it reaches them, and I hear the injured roar of one of the voklit.
>>
No. 506233 ID: c4e5c2
File 136618133889.png - (26.91KB , 700x700 , 307.png )
506233

I jump around after the blast allows it with my sniper, and immediately shoot at the other voklit, who was attempting to regain his balance with his gun. The first voklit is floored and not moving.

One regular shot. Getting enormous, unarmored targets that die when shot in the right places like this seems like a luxury. I have to stop myself from shooting him more to pretend it's always like this.

I confirm that there are no cloakers around, as I do not see any areas where a modestly sized neumono could completely hide.
>>
No. 506235 ID: c4e5c2
File 136618139654.png - (30.22KB , 700x700 , 308.png )
506235

The two other Pomi are under some small rocks that do provide at least decent cover, however, and start shooting me with submachine guns. Their firepower is lacking to get through my armor, but it does do its damage and stings to no end. It forces me to get back for a moment, as I could not aim from the voklit to either of them while getting rattled with bullets.

I may or may not ever know why those Pomi are here, but the same could be said of the mikliks. For purposes of getting out of here, it does not matter much. Ultimately, I know little about Pomi, only that they are among the most fragile of aliens, second to belenos.
>>
No. 506236 ID: fb528f

Grab a grenade sized rock off the floor and throw it at their position. They don't know how many grenades you have so you should get a chance to fire armor piercing rounds into them.
>>
No. 506241 ID: 7d4835

>>506236

I was thinking of the same thing, they are shooting at Polo's cover and it could drop a decent sized rock for good use.

If there are stalactites directly over the Pomi, that may seem like a much better option to shoot for if there happens to be any.
>>
No. 506255 ID: 9e1727

>>506236
>>506241
They have low-light optics, and combat training. They're not going to mistake a thrown grenade-sized purple rock for a grenade, even if it is moving fast. Especially since they've been down here around purple rocks for long enough to know the difference. However, we do have something that does look grenade-like, or at least explosive: The rockets.

If the contact fuse in its nose can be unscrewed, and you have something small enough to jam in in its place that looks sufficiently like it's an improvised timed fuse, replace the rocket's fuse with that. Otherwise leave the rocket intact.

Wait for one of the pomi to reload, then take the rocket, pop out into the line of fire, lob it so it'll land roughly in their cover, then pull back and get your rifle ready. Since you did this while the other pomi was still firing, it'll lend credence to it being a legit IED 'cause you put yourself into the line of fire to throw it.

If they fall for it and scramble to get away, that's when you swing out and nail them with one AP round each. Aim for center mass, since that's easier to hit and they're so fragile they'll go down well enough for your purposes here.

If you're somehow lucky enough that both of the pomi have to reload at or nearly at the same time, forget throwing the rocket and just swing out to hit at least one of them with your rifle.
>>
No. 506265 ID: 57a559

You're suppressed, aren't you supposed to use a grenade again if you can't get out of it or have teammates to use as a diversion?

If we had a little more room (and the equipment) I'd suggest doubling back a little and setting up a claymore. Of course, maybe you do have one of those, and maybe you can throw a grenade in time to double back a bit.
>>
No. 506266 ID: 57a559

>>506265
Well, less a grenade and more of a "grenade", but yeah, I'd still suggest at least a doubleback with a rock throw, with optional claymore whip cream.
>>
No. 506271 ID: d6ef5d

>Although I only have one grenade
No, you have two. The one you took off of the hunters we ambushed, and the one you just took off the Rokoa clone.

And now that you've thrown one, you have one remaining.

...I'm really not willing to waste our last grenade on two Pomi of all things, though.

>throw a rock as a decoy
Yeah, doubt that will work.

>throw one of the bazooka rounds as a fake grenade
Yeah, that could work. Throwing another metal hand sized object at them might get them to stop firing and dive away giving you long enough to duck out and put an AP round through each of them.

>I may or may not ever know why those Pomi are here, but the same could be said of the mikliks. For purposes of getting out of here, it does not matter much.
True. We don't know how they got caught up in this, and e have not the means or time to figure it out. Gotta end this quickly and move on

>if we win this
Be sure to recollect the bazooka round, and grab anything useful you can. We'll be limited by time (grab and go fast) and the fact someone your size can only carry so much without being slowed down. Useful things may include: the voklit's bag for carrying stuff (if it's not too big for you), the supplies in said bag (although if it's too big you might have to dump some), ammunition compatible with any of the group's weapons (well, except the voklit ammo. Too big to take, really), mappers, food, and explosives.
>>
No. 506276 ID: d6ef5d

>paranoia mode maximum
...you know, if that backpack conveniently turns out to full of really useful food and supplies, I'm going to wonder if it's a trap. Send a weak patrol to get killed just to bring you poisoned or drugged supplies.

If we do find food or something, don't eat any of it till we get our science hivers to check it.
>>
No. 506295 ID: c4e5c2
File 136621732429.png - (24.19KB , 700x700 , 309.png )
506295

>You had two grenades.
Yes. Yes I did. Now I have one.

And the bazooka rounds. Which I lob, instead of using my actual last grenade.

>"Shit!" one panics, gets up and tries to run back to better cover.
>"w... Wait! That's n-"

BAM

Too late for the panicky one. He gave me an easy shot. One left, who completely hides behind his rock, only blind firing now. He is competent at it, so I move back. I am uncertain how many rounds he has left before he reloads, but he is being careful about spending what he has left.
>>
No. 506298 ID: d6ef5d

Hmm. Not too keen on waiting for him to have to reload, especially if he's being careful (or can grab his buddy's weapon). It's too his advantage to draw this out as long as possible- he has reinforcements responding to the camera sighting. You have a time limit to get out of here before more searchers and combatants arrive.

So... we have several options. We wait for him to reload, and then move, trying to get around his cover (wastes precious time, though). We could try shooting him right though his cover with an AP round (should work, if it's thin enough. AP rounds seem to go consistently right though and back out armored targets at this range. Although a round isn't going to make it through several inches or rock, I think). We could just dodge, move fast, rely on our armor, in order to change to a position where we could shoot him. Or use the grapple to zip forward or past him?

Or if he's just cowering behind cover, sticking him gun out and firing blindly, you could just shoot him in the gun to disable it, or grapple-hook it away from him.

...or we could just run away and leave him firing blindly. I don't like that option though. Back the way we came there are two branches- one is long and strait (we'll probably run into enemies coming the other way) and the other goes back to the camera. And we miss looting these guys. And there's a clump of a lot of branches on the map past these guys- it would be easier to lose further pursuit that way.
>>
No. 506299 ID: 76b151

I agree, we don't have time for a protracted fire fight. Go low to avoid the bulk of the bullets then shoot his gun or hand. Either will disable him long enough for you to get a shot at him.
>>
No. 506300 ID: 57a559

>>506295
Shoot the gun. He'll shit his pants and probably run at that point.

I'm not sure if it would be a good idea to kill him, let him live, or try to capture him. Most practical thought is killing him regardless.
>>
No. 506304 ID: eaf2f5

Yell at the remaining pomi that it has one chance to surrender before it will die! If it doesn't immediately obey start advancing low and try to get the dead pomis smg.
>>
No. 506319 ID: d6ef5d

>>506304
...while I have no problem being merciful when the situation allows it, getting him to surrender and safely securing him without putting ourself at risk could quite possibly take more time than bleeding away all his ammo. We can't afford it with other enemies on the way.
>>
No. 506321 ID: 001618

if you choose to shoot him then just lay prone and shoot his gun then rush the guy probably with your pistol drawn and just keep putting rounds into him until he stops moving your you can take him out with your knife. after he is dealt with grab as many of the supplies as you can carry and not be sloan down top much and got out of there.
>>
No. 506344 ID: 9e1727

There is a way you can take advantage of him blind firing and not looking over his cover to reposition without him knowing it, leaving him firing at an empty corner.

Go prone facing in his direction, hold your rifle out in front of you, then roll to your left to just shy of showing yourself around the side of his cover. Since he's firing over the cover, almost all of his shots will go over you, but still keep the top of your helmet facing him instead of your visor.

Once you get over to where you have a more side view of his gun than the front, you may be able to get it away from him. If you think you can pull it off, pull out your grappling hook launcher and shoot it at the side of his SMG and yank it away. That'll leave you an opening to get up and close enough you can aim your rifle at him and demand his surrender.

However, if you don't think you could pull that off, you could instead crawl forward to his cover. Then when he stops firing for a moment pop up, level your rifle at him, and demand his surrender. Just don't do it too close, otherwise he might get the bright idea to try and grab or knock your rifle away.

If you do get him to surrender, tell him to drop his guns, everything on his belt, pull off and drop his helmet, then start running back the way you came and don't stop.
>>
No. 506429 ID: c4e5c2
File 136626073204.png - (18.64KB , 900x600 , 310.png )
506429

"You get one chance to surrender!"
No response.

I recheck the tunnel with the knife. The blind firing was only momentary, and he has moved back to good cover. With that said, I do the knife test again to check the low ground. His cover does not allow for low visibility. I cannot see him, which means he cannot see below a certain point, which it just so happens I can fit under.

So I go in low. While various outcomes could occur should I sneak up on him, none of it happens. He lobs a grenade at me, and some might call me lucky that I happened to catch him out of cover. While that was admittedly lucky, in the end, a grenade was still thrown at me, which looks like it was well aimed to plop down where my feet were just before I decided to move out here.
>>
No. 506430 ID: d6ef5d

Run / grapple forward and away from the grenade. Get behind the cover the Pomi was using.

Be alert for any movement from the bodies, on the off chance the Voklit aren't completely dead and need a pistol round.

Once the explosion stops, get up, loot fast (looting list back here >>506271), and moveit down the tunnel they came from.
>>
No. 506432 ID: f2c20c

>>506429
Give it an assist to smack it further down the tunnel behind you. Then just get down.
>>
No. 506436 ID: 9e1727

No time to get up on your feet to run away from the blast. You're going to have to scramble forward on all fours. Or threes in this case, since you have to hold your rifle in one hand. That is, unless you think you could lob it ahead of you without it getting damaged.

Once you've recovered and done a personal damage assessment, snap up the rocket you threw, check that the voklit that was caught in the grenade blast isn't going to get up on you, then loot the bodies as fast as you can. You've got one minute, at most, so only do a cursory check.

Check the pomi corpses' belts first, since they'd have gear more your size. Priority is to find more grenades, and maybe a spare magazine of pistol ammo. Then open up the pack on the voklit and dump it out to see what's inside. Cut the strap to get it off if you have to.
>>
No. 506445 ID: 9ddf68

get away from that grenade as fast as you can and after it blows just start looting the bodies for anything that looks useful then get out of there as fast as you can because I believe you just kicked the hornets nest.
>>
No. 506530 ID: 8b9215

Crawl as fast as you can away from it while staying flat. Put your tail in the way of anything you can to intercept shrapnel.
>>
No. 506692 ID: c4e5c2
File 136640818235.png - (76.22KB , 700x700 , 311.png )
506692

I scramble forward. With one hand occupied on my sniper that I would rather not throw, I do not have the room to fire a grappling hook. In any case, there was no time for that or for cover, because the pomi was also cooking the grenade.
>>
No. 506694 ID: c4e5c2
File 136640827738.png - (27.23KB , 700x700 , 312.png )
506694

My left arm stings. It is not broken again, but between a grazing shot and getting blown back, it is not happy.

The pomis have one pistol clip and a pistol, their submachine guns with one spare set of ammo. They seem light. The voklit's backpack has a small package of medical supplies, and some voklit food.

I get my bazooka round back onto my strap with the other, before I forget.
>>
No. 506695 ID: 76b151

if you think the pomi armor is compatable and you can take off sections relatively quickly grab that too. otherwise lets continue to vamoose. These guys won't be the only response team.
>>
No. 506696 ID: 9ddf68

well grab the pistol ammo as more ammo never hurts and maybe the submachine gun if you don't think it would slow you down to much. Also grab as much as the medical supplies you can while within reason then book it out of there and start heading back to camp, just don't make a strait line towards your camp incase they can track you or something along those lines.
>>
No. 506697 ID: f2c20c

>>506694
Grab a pomi arm segment to replace yours? If I remember correctly, the armor suits are multi-fit.

Leave the dinky pistol, carry the SMGs and their ammo if you can along with the medical supplies and food. The medical supplies and food are top priority. Ammo to go with weapons we already have back at base is secondary, and weapons third, in order of SMG and pistol.
>>
No. 506698 ID: 76b151

oh and if one pomi had a grenade most likely both did. See if you can't find it.
>>
No. 506699 ID: 735f4f

What are our food stockpiles looking like? If that food is something we can eat then we should take as much as we can.
>>
No. 506703 ID: d6ef5d

...is that backpack too big for you? We could stuff stuff in there if it's not too big (although it looks like it is?).

>what loot
Grab the ammo clips and a submachine gun (we can either use it to arm another of our allies, or so you have a weapon without such a limited supply of ammo). Take the medical kit (as I remember, we'd just about used up what we had back at camp) and as much food as you can without slowing you down or encumbering yourself.

We don't need another pistol (and don't really have enough ammo to split it up and arm another ally with).

The panicky Pomi didn't have a grenade to take? I guess they weren't equipped the same.

Then moveit down the tunnel, the way they came from. Assuming the search teams were spread out, right behind them is currently the safest place to be. Try and lose your pursuit.

>>506695
What would we want the pomi armor for? Polo's already got a full set sized to her (we replaced the missing piece after ambushing those hunters). And the Pomi stuff will be too small and the wrong shape for any of our allies. Not to mention stripping them would take time, and I don't see how we'd carry it.
>>
No. 506729 ID: 9e1727

Take the SMG and the spare SMG ammo first, since you're lacking a weapon that's good at short to medium distance. Hook it to the strap on the front of your armor for easy access. If you have room for the other SMG on your back, hook it there. It'll be good to get another weapon back to the group.

Take the medical supplies second, since you and the group are short on them. They'll be invaluable if you get hit on the way back, or they get hit on the way out.

Thirdly, if the pistol caliber and magazine are the same type as your pistol, take the spare pistol magazine. If you still have room, stuff the pistol in your belt too.

The voklit food is too bulky and heavy to take an amount back to the group that would be significant. The most you can do with it is take a bit to eat yourself right now, if you can stomach it. It'll be just that much less rations you'll have to eat later.

You're probably having encumbrance issues by now, so see if you can pull the belt and pouches from one or both of the pomi and put them on. Either around your waist, tightened around your thighs, or loosened up and used as another belt across your chest.

Ask Bell if she (He? It?) listen on the helmet's external microphones, turning them all the way up, for the sound of distant footsteps, either running or walking, and warn you when any are approaching. If Bell needs a reference, say it'll be similar to what this group sounded like when they were approaching.
>>
No. 506766 ID: c4e5c2
File 136642314225.png - (22.25KB , 700x700 , 313.png )
506766

The backpack is far too big for me. It is about as tall as me, in fact, and would likely drag on the ground.

"Bell, alert me to any footstep noises. Use the latest group as reference."
>"Will do."

I bring both smgs and their ammo. The pistol ammo is a fit, so I take that and leave the pistol.

>Grab a pomi arm segment to replace yours?
I take a couple of arm segments. I am not sure if they are compatible with my own, but they are light.

>If one pomi had a grenade most likely both did.
The other did. I pick it up.

I get the medical supplies. With that, I have little room for food, but I chomp on some. I doubt I could carry much anyways, that Viln would not call any more than a bite. The last thing I get is a small belt from the pomi to put around my thigh for a few more pouches. We were short on those as is.

With that, I run forward until I get around the next intersection when the cave tilts upward both ways.

>"Footsteps detected, increasing in volume. Approximately 2-5 units to the east."

Damn. I'll -

>"Approximately 1-3 units to the west as well."

Damn again. I do not sense neumono.
>>
No. 506767 ID: 8b9215

South is only way to go. Go south.
>>
No. 506768 ID: f2c20c

>>506766
I think that they are specifically sending non-neumono at you both so you can't use the empathy advantage and to expend our rifle ammo.

At any rate, I don't think we can handle a pincer attack, and there's no good ambush spot where we can avoid that. If those red areas are the probable positions of the enemy, we can't just run past them into an intersection either.

Run south.
>>
No. 506772 ID: d6ef5d

Damn. We have to double back.

Okay, immediately south of the intersection where we just fought, the map shows what looks like a dead end. But it's pretty close to what looks like another dead end slightly to the west. Is there an unmapped connection there? Could we a good way to slip around.
>>
No. 506786 ID: 9ddf68

well shit south it is. they have to have a hole in there search somewhere we just got to find it.
>>
No. 506790 ID: c4e5c2
File 136642799883.png - (20.20KB , 700x700 , 314.png )
506790

I run back south.

Heading south from where I was, there was another path to the south that lead to a dead end. I am tempted to look in there for an unmapped path, however, the groups behind me are hot on my trail. If I go in, and it is an actual dead end, then I will be trapped with two squads at my back.

So I take the eastern path from the intersection that bends back down south again.

>"Footsteps detected, increasing in volume. Approximately 1-3 units to the east."

And more. Again, no neumono sensed, but it is possible that I am being surrounded by entirely jammed neumonos.
>>
No. 506795 ID: f2c20c

>>506790
Keep moving. As you pass the enemy-filled tunnel, have an SMG out and let loose a burst if anyone spots you. That'll keep them from shooting you as readily.
>>
No. 506797 ID: 9ddf68

Crap, you're going to have to double time it if you want to stay ahead of group #3 and not get pinned between them and Group #1 & 2. If you can get past them I say take the western path as I really don't want to go towards the enemy stronghold until we're ready. If you can't outrun the third group I think it would be best if you rushed them otherwise we're going to be stuck between 3 most likely very pissed of groups with little to no cover. If you do have to rush them I say toss your grande first to try and scatter them or if your lucky just blow them to hell and use your new submachine gun to mow down anyone who gets in your way.
>>
No. 506799 ID: d6ef5d

Damn. They're coming at you from two directions now, and you're being herded south. Towards the base. Which is bad, because the closer you get to that, the easier it will be for them to deploy units against you.

Doesn't look like they even slowed down to check out the battle site.

Neumono or not doesn't really matter. Anything surrounding you is bad.

We have to keep moving- you can't fight with the enemy coming at you from two sides. Gotta find a place to hide and let them pass, or where combat is feasible, or where you can lose them.

Any small passages we can exploit? Or a ledge we can grapple to and hide behind as they rush by?
>>
No. 506808 ID: 9e1727

Get to the corner and quickly check it with your knife. You need to see what the composition of the east group is before deciding whether to push through them, or if to merely hold them off long enough to run south.

Both east and south aren't looking so good. To the east is known, but it's all long tunnels, two of which have cameras on them, and with only one unknown branch. It'd be easy to get sandwiched that way. There's a tunnel to the west to the south, but unknown, real long and mostly straight, which, if it doesn't have unmapped side tunnels, will get you trapped. Then further south is the open area around the salikai's base, which, while it would make it much easier to evade and hide, is very likely to have cameras watching the entrance tunnels, and enemy forces laying in wait.

Taken all together, the preferred direction is to push east if the force that way is relatively weak, but if it's not then hold them off long enough to get south and into the westward tunnel without them seeing.

Kinda related to this situation, but I finally thought up a use for the Rokoa dart: Detecting if you're in a jamming field by if you can emphatically sense the dart or not. Not really useful for detecting neumono squads until they're nearly on top of you, but it'd be there. So don't kill or throw it away if you find another one of them.
>>
No. 506827 ID: de262c

>>506790
This is a pretty obvious attempt at herding us into a trap to the south. Let's try to break through to the northeast before we end up in the middle of a killzone.
>>
No. 506846 ID: 8b9215

Push east. Let loose with SMG then dump it for second one. Unload that, then swap mags and unload again, then again.
>>
No. 506857 ID: d6ef5d

>>506827
>>506846
Going to the Northeast means being trapped in a killzone. The two squads to the north are right on our tail. If there's any delay in taking out the NE units at all (if they're armored, have cover, are tough, more than one, etc) we'll end up pincered between both groups. In the middle of an intersection. That is a phenomenally bad situation.

We do not want to fight, especially here at a bad tactical position. There's a limit to even what Polo can do, outnumbered and attacked on multiple fronts.
>>
No. 506886 ID: c4e5c2
File 136648542379.png - (18.52KB , 700x700 , 315.png )
506886

There is nothing around me that is an adequate hiding spot. Everything seems more or less smoothed out with these caves, the southern sections surrounding the salikai base, judging by the map, would offer adequate hiding places.

I am barely going to get to the bottom intersection before the eastern group does. The east group is comprised of at least 3 unjammed neumono after all, we simply weren't in range yet. They do not hear me, but are sprinting, as I am. I believe that they are a tribal hive, and one of them is another queen.

I am certain they will fire on me once they get a visual. Whether I go east or south, I will have to fire back on them first. With what, I am not sure. At this rate, they will cross into this intersection in about 15 seconds, while the group behind me could be anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute.
>>
No. 506888 ID: d6ef5d

More neumono? Well, they're very likely to be armored. Meaning the SMG is going to be pretty ineffective. Especially against one of those oversized tribal queens.

I would think we'd need to start off with the rifle- use an explosive round or two and maybe some AP to shut down or tie up the tribals. Then huck a grenade at the other squads when they show up, lay down some suppressive fire with the smg and get out of there.

When you run, head south. We'll try to lose them in the twisty passages around the Salikai base. If they're moving fast in pursuit- that means you can lose them if you find a place to double back or to hide while they rush past (I think the grappling hook is your friend here- no one ever checks behind ledge or stuff near the ceiling). Then we can exit back to the smooth caves the way we entered, or by using the other connection to the west.
>>
No. 506890 ID: 9ddf68

I say use anything that goes boom because when shit starts to explode people tend to take cover. fire an HE round or to just to keep them on there toes and see if you can't run by them before the other larger group shows up, if so then run south and try and lose them anyway you can, if not then lob your grande at the second group coming from behind you to force them into cover then try and loss both groups after heading south.
>>
No. 506896 ID: f2c20c

>>506886
Personally I think that using an SMG will be enough, here. Our goal is not to fight them, as we don't have time. We just have to throw off their aim so we can get further south.
>>
No. 506899 ID: 9e1727

Get to the corner and quickly knife-check it, to confirm that they're heavily armored like you'd expect, see what weapons they have, and to check if they have non-neumono with them. Switch to thermals to check for cloakers as well.

You don't have the time or ordinance to kill them, so the best you can do is blind and deafen them. Just gotta remember that those three are bugged, so if there's at least one left with vision and hearing, Four Stripes will relay that one's senses to the blinded and deafened ones.

While you could blind and deafen these three, kill any non-neumono that might be with them, then slip past them back east, the tunnels that way are straight, with few intersections. It'd be real easy to get pincered that way, and it's also back towards a greater concentration of Hunters.

You could run south, by throwing a cooked grenade at the group to the east at roughly eye level, then slipping across the east tunnel mouth before the debris and dust clears. However, that still leaves you with even more enemies on your tail while you run into the unknown. If there's an enemy force ahead, or you run into a dead end, you're screwed.

Considering these, the best course of action right now would be to attempt to misdirect the enemy forces. Attack the group in the east tunnel fiercely enough that it looks like you pushed through to the east, but you actually went south and hid. That'll get the enemy running to the east while you slip away up the north tunnel once the north group passes.

Once you check the corner with your knife, pull, cook, and throw a grenade so it goes off at eye level with the neumono coming from the east. If you can't get them all, aim to knock out the queen's eyes instead. After it goes off run across the tunnel mouth before the debris and dust clears and position on the south side. That way they'll aim towards the north side. Knife-check around the corner there, then line up an explosive shot on the visors of whoever is left. If you have to take some small caliber hits, do so.

When they're all blinded, check how close the north group is. If they're close enough that you won't be able to get away to the south without being seen, run to the east. Otherwise, run south and look for hiding spots.
>>
No. 506921 ID: 06fe59

Two frag SMG rush East. We are going to have 10 people piled up behind us soon. I'd rather deal with 3 now than run into something we can't handle.
>>
No. 506923 ID: d6ef5d

>>506896
I agree that we're not here to really fight. The problem is we need to hit them hard enough to slow down, or back off and take cover, long enough for us to withdraw. And I'm afraid that growth hormone-ed tribal Queen in full armor will be able to ignore small caliber fire- letting her charge or fire on us (with another gel launcher?) basically with impunity.

>four stripes will be able to see for them
Only if we're in range of one of the relays they have hidden around. While there's a reasonable chance we will be, I'm skeptical that they could have covered the entire cave system. We might get lucky, there.

>two frag
...really rather not waste both grenades unless we really had to.
>>
No. 506924 ID: 735f4f

Big difference between wasting grenades and getting our ass shot up. If we can avoid it sure if not use both without a second thought.
>>
No. 506927 ID: 9e1727

>>506924
Problem is, is that a grenade most likely won't do as much damage as we'd like it to against armored targets like these. Best it would be used for is a precision throw so it blows up in front of one or more of their visors and eyes, blowing them out, and to kick up a cloud of dust and smoke to cover our movement. So that means we'd only get one good, effective, throw here. Now, if there's unarmored non-neumono with them, then that may change things, but we'll just have to wait and see.

And I suspect we lost an opportunity to lose the group to the north when we went this way. Polo could have hidden in that giant pack the voklit was carrying, or under one of their corpses, and that group would have passed right by. Too late now, but we ought to keep that hiding tactic in mind for later.
>>
No. 506947 ID: c4e5c2
File 136650686027.png - (15.38KB , 700x700 , 316.png )
506947

I check the corner. Three neumono exactly. Armored. One giant. With a gel launcher. An SMG won't prevent her from using that.

I cook a grenade and toss it. I sense four stripes kick in - telling them to take cover. I run out during that, to the south tunnel, and the neumono take some damage. Yet still, they fire at me. Their aim is not good.

The giant started charging a gel launcher. I aim to fire an HE round.

A lucky shot on their part grazes my shoulder. While little damage is done, it happened to occur precisely as I was attempting to shoot.
>>
No. 506948 ID: c4e5c2
File 136650691137.png - (42.06KB , 700x700 , 317.png )
506948

Although I was not knocked far off balance, the slight change of angle is too much. I miss, and the HE round harmlessly explodes somewhere down the tunnel.
>>
No. 506949 ID: c4e5c2
File 136650692257.png - (24.92KB , 700x700 , 318.png )
506949

It will take too long to re-aim my rifle before the gel launches, so I run for it.

An SMG probably would not have prevented that either. I am rather concerned about my current fate, when, hearing the gel splat right behind me just as I clear the intersection, I do not know how I could possibly have made this situation go any better. Aside from not being so unlucky.
>>
No. 506957 ID: f2c20c

>>506949
Just take cover. Try to protect your gear. Maybe especially the live rockets strapped to your back.
>>
No. 506958 ID: 06fe59

Run like the little bitch you are.
>>
No. 506968 ID: d6ef5d

Hell. That went badly. Burning precious explosives for little gain.

...if you're really lucky, that gel blast will collapse the tunnel at the intersection, and buy you the time you need to escape (or damage the tunnel enough you could fire at the ceiling and collapse it with an HE shot).

In the meantime, gotta survive that explosion. Move as far as you can before it goes off, then duck and roll to ride it out while still moving forward (I'm assuming there's not time to grapple away). Position yourself to shield your weapon and injured arm (ie, roll up into a ball with the injured arm inside).
>>
No. 506981 ID: 9e1727

...Damn. The best you can hope for now is that the gel explosive will bring the ceiling down.

Run as fast before the explosives go off, near to the wall. That way if the tunnel does cave-in you'll be less likely to be crushed by the falling rubble. Hug your rifle in, and when the gel explodes, curl into a ball to ride out the blast.

If the roof caves in, then immediately pick yourself up, gather any items that were knocked off you, and keep running. If it doesn't then roll over and shoot HE rounds into it until it does; Cook and throw the grenade if you have to bring it down.
>>
No. 506982 ID: f8d11f

Jump, tuck, and roll. Try and use the force of the blast to push you further ahead giving you a larger gap from the groups chasing you and maybe see if you can't lose them. On a side not watch out for more cameras as we have learned that they are pure evil
>>
No. 506984 ID: c4e5c2
File 136651126616.png - (58.70KB , 700x700 , 319.png )
506984

There is some good news. First off, the rockets at my back should not be live and armed, so getting knocked around will not detonate them. Furthermore, I am able to keep myself upright even as the gel explodes, propelling me forward.

More good news, the gel caused a cave in. I do not have to currently worry about my chasers.

The bad news is that it caused a large cave in. Although I am not at the brunt of it, my vision is quickly obscured by falling rubble.
>>
No. 506985 ID: c4e5c2
File 136651133939.png - (140.38KB , 700x700 , 320.png )
506985

I wake up. Apparently I blacked out. Judging by the clock... for only about 15 seconds. I can see around me, so I imagine I am not buried. Only with one eye. Both of my eyes are functional, but the goggles are messed up, and so I can only see augmented vision through my left.

I can't appear to move. Rather, I can move most of my body, but not my right leg. It seems stuck. And in a great deal of pain. My entire body is, come to think of it.

"Bell, where am I?" I whisper, since my suit has just lost its seal.
>"Last known location on display. Mappers have been damaged and/or lost, only the last recorded map is in storage."
"How is my armor?"
>"Right foor plates are disconnected. Goggles largely missing and cracked. Neckpiece and left upper arm found cracked and heavily dented. Bottom two left earplates disconnected. Rear camera scratched, vision heavily impaired. All other sections are in moderate damage."

My sniper is just past me, above the rocks, in what appears to be... well, it is not mangled.
>>
No. 506988 ID: f2c20c

>>506985
Fucking hell.

Extract what limbs you can from the rocks, push some away so you can move a bit more freely, then get a better look at your right leg.

I have a feeling we're going to get captured.
>>
No. 506989 ID: 76b151

well crap, lets see how bad our leg is. Can we free it from the pile of rock its inevitable under?

Also I'm glad we grabbed those armor sections, it looks like yours is pretty banged up now.
>>
No. 506990 ID: 52019c

Well try and see if you can't dig yourself out and limp back to camp, just be careful not to run into any more cameras and not to leave a trail for anyone to follow you back to camp with
>>
No. 506991 ID: d6ef5d

...well, fuck.

Status: injured, irreplaceable equipment damaged, trapped.

All right. Not good. We've damaged irreplaceable equipment, and if you've seriously injured your leg, we're going to have a hard time getting where we need to be.

More immediately however: you are trapped / pinned. The enemy knows your location. If you cannot extricate yourself, you don't have much choice but to wait until they find you and/or eat your grenade.

Your immediate goal is to start extricating yourself. Remove rubble, free your parts, remove and discard any pieces of your armor too damaged to use (although maybe things that are just dented or misshaped can be reshaped back at camp. We have tools and voklit strength at our disposal). Recover what equipment you can find nearby (is the mapper around?). Use broken equipment or the Pomi armor segments as a tool (improvised shovel / lever).

Take stock of your injuries, as soon as you can. How bad is your leg? How's the arm, any worse? What equipment has been wrecked or lost?

>so I can only see augmented vision through my left.
Are you saying that that the visor doesn't do normal vision anymore- that's it's locked in augmented mode?

>last know location displayed
Don't see it.

Hmm. If we make it back to the others, I wonder how much the science hivers could patch our armor back together with the stuff we looted before. We did get a few intact visors from hunter helmets, right?
>>
No. 506992 ID: b238b4

Stay quiet for a moment, and listen. Can you hear anyone trying to dig you out, or dig through to where you are? You don't want to make any noise that would confirm that you're still alive.
>>
No. 506993 ID: 06fe59

Pry yourself free. and gather up what you can find.
>>
No. 506999 ID: 9e1727

Priority here is to get out of the rubble and get away from this position ASAP, before the enemy comes and starts digging. Then you'll have no chance to escape.

Hold still a moment and listen for any activity out there. Ask Bell to keep listening at maximum volute and to alert you if there's voices, or rocks being shifted that aren't being moved by you.

Work your arms free, slipping them out of the armor if they're trapped, and take stock of what items you have with you; You're going to need that medical kit for your leg. Briefly search the rubble for any items that got loose and are partially covered.

Start shifting the rocks around your right leg to get it loose, then assess the damage to it. You may have enough room to work on treating it here, if you have the medical supplies.

>Missing mappers
The mappers are likely gone for good, but your helmet ought to have a basic compass built in, so you'll still be able to navigate. However there's a possible long-term problem with losing them. When the salikai forces come to dig this area out to try and find you, they may find a mapper intact enough to extract the data from. And that'll point them right to your group's camp, and Bile's hideout. So unless you find them before leaving that's going to be a lingering danger as long as they're in the same locations.

>Sniper rifle "not mangled"
How much damage did it take, then? Lost its scope? Damaged grip?
>>
No. 507005 ID: 57a559

>>506985
This is like that time you blew yourself to pieces when we had our first fight/encounter with Rokoa, only now you don't have friends to pull you out of this mess.

Whatever you do, do not ask Bell about a medical report if she's capable of it, that will just kill your morale. Fight the curiosity.
There's really only one thing you CAN do, and that's get up. I think we just delayed our plans by about a week, and that's generous, because you're going to need to heal and repair your equipment.
>>
No. 507007 ID: f2c20c

>>507005
I disagree about not asking for a medical report. That seems like the sort of information we NEED to know, even if it's bad news.

Hang on... Polo, shouldn't your bioarmor be numbing the pain? We may be in some serious trouble. Or was it just Rokoa's bioarmor that did that?
>>
No. 507008 ID: 735f4f

This is actually not the worst situation we could be in. With luck the cave in took out all or most of the teams after us. Depending on the extent of the cave in it will make tracking us down harder.

Bad news is your foot might be crushed and you don't have gas protection anymore.

Work at freeing your hands and the area around your head first then work at your legs. If we can get out we treat our foot and survey the surroundings.

Do not want to stay here any longer than need be but don't rush freeing yourself from the rocks.
>>
No. 507019 ID: 9e1727

If you still have the x-ray scanner and can reach it, or it's integrated into your visor, check your limbs and body with it before moving too much. Your bio-armor's pain masking might be hiding the pain from a minor or partial fracture that would fully break if you put too much stress on it right now.

Does your helmet have accelerometers built in? Because if it does, and it has a digital compass, Bell could use them together to record the path you take from here on out and mark it on the map. It won't be nearly as good as the mapper unit, but it's better than having to describe every route you took from this point on to Katzati and guess at distances.
>>
No. 507100 ID: c4e5c2
File 136657927253.png - (48.93KB , 700x700 , 321.png )
507100

To clarify, my goggles' functions still function, it is simply that the right half of them are missing.

Perhaps I should have kept Rokoa's old bioarmor, with its pain numbing specialty. Of all the people who needed it, she was the last. This one still numbs pain to a degree, but pain is an advantage, to a degree. Rokoa's was simply dangerous.

I do not fight the curiosity. "Bell, are you capable of giving a medical report?"
>"No. I suggest calling your doctor."
"... thanks, Bell."
>"You are welcome."
"Can you trace my acceleration and make estimations to my locations?"
>"Yes. Caution - this function has proved unreliable."

I flip to x-ray. My left arm is fractured. If I don't get shot more, or crushed under rock, it should be fine. My foot, however, is all the way broken. Including, but not limited, to the ankle. The armor plates are completely busted, so I simply yank my foot out of them and the rocks, biting through the pain. My sniper rifle starts looking like an oddly shaped crutch all of a sudden. But as a sniper rifle, it appears function on the outside, so it may be usable still. The armor plates are busted below the ankle, so I simply remove them.

I get the medical supplies from the small medpack and bind my foot. It is no proper cast, but I am more concerned about leaving a bloody trail behind. I locate one of the mappers nearby. It is crushed.

There is no part of my thought process that involves staying here for longer than I have to, but I will not be able to move quickly anymore. The gear I've had is too much now, so I will have to prioritize. I approximate that I should lose about half of my gear, otherwise I will be slowed to a crawl. I do not hear any noises at the moment other than myself.
>>
No. 507101 ID: f2c20c

>>507100
We need a list, and weight estimates.
>>
No. 507102 ID: 76b151

... do we need a stats page for Polo as well as Alison?
>>
No. 507106 ID: d6ef5d

Ugh. Fuck. Just as soon as we get some gear, we have to start ditching it.

Keep the mapper. Even damaged, maybe Katzati can repair it. Or at least download the maps you were able to get.

Ditch one of the smgs. Possibly both, if we have to, although I'd prefer to keep one (If you discard both, keep the ammo if it's compatible with Rokann's). Ditch the spare pistol. Discard the casing of the medical kit, and stuff any remaining medical supplies into pouches. If we still need to burn weight, discard first smg ammo, and then pistol ammo.

Ditch any broken armor segments, or that are damaged enough to impair you. If you can't use the Pomi segments, ditch them.

Ditch and arm one of the bazooka rounds. Inside the rubble pile. (Leave your other ditched supplies inside as well- make it look like you're still there). Use the training Viln gave you to improvise a pressure or string trap (using a bandage stones, or discarded supplies), so when they come digging for you, it'll blow. If you're forced to leave any ammo, put them with it to make the explosion worse.

Keep your grapple, the grenade, the pistol, and your sniper, and ammunition for it.

...does that work, or are you still overburdened?

>plan
How fast can you move? We're not making it back to camp soon. Best idea I can think of is to limp away, lay low until you can move more quickly, then head back. And hope they haven't moved or been killed in your absence.

As soon as we get the chance to rest, you need to examine you weapons in more detail. Make sure the sniper will function, etc.
>>
No. 507107 ID: f2c20c

>>507106
Alright, lacking a detailed list, that seems acceptable. Polo did mention the SMGs were light, though.
>>
No. 507115 ID: c4e5c2
File 136658114965.png - (29.13KB , 700x700 , 322.png )
507115

Rethinking of what I do, in fact, have, would be nice. I can only estimate weights, and that is no strength of mine.

http://tgchan.org/wiki/Polo_Quest_Statistics
This page will have info added to it as discovered/needed. Feel free to point out any mistakes as usual.
>>
No. 507118 ID: 76b151

dump the SMGs, everything in the pack that won't be of use to neumino or volklit, one of the 'zooka rounds.

Examine the sniper rifle more closely. If its dangerous to fire we need to dump it now as well. If thats the case then keep one of the SMGs isntead and all available ammo.

We should also have some plate armor stored, keep that for repairs. We will definately need it. Hell you can probably use it for a splint right now.
>>
No. 507119 ID: d6ef5d

Alright, I still think this plan works. >>507106

Only changes are I would say to keep the light (in case the helmet goes offline completely) and the knife.

And if we really need to cut down weight, we could put both bazooka rounds in the trap. Although I'd really prefer to get one back to Niam.

And don't go by the weight if they're only estimates anyways, go with what you feel you can handle.
>>
No. 507123 ID: f2c20c

>>507115
Pomi anesthesia? Is that useful at all? We can ditch it. I feel as though using the rifle as a crutch makes it not burden us especially much. It seems like we're carrying... about 17kg of gear?

Ditch both SMGs and a bazooka round, along with the LED lantern. We don't need it; our visor still works well enough to see in the dark.
>>
No. 507124 ID: 9ddf68

drop one of the smgs and the pistol as well (do the smgs have a semi-auto function?) also lose any armor part that isn't really any good for protection right now and maybe the LED lantern as we have thermal vision so we can see in the dark try and keep anything that can explode as we kinda need that to make bombs with somewhere down the line.
>>
No. 507131 ID: d6ef5d

Oh, and you got a shard of visor you may want to pull out of your face, when we get a chance.

Do we have a visor for the bioarmor for the way?
>>
No. 507141 ID: d6ef5d

I don't know why some people are prioritizing the smg over the pistol. The pistol is Polo's own gear, and something she's more skilled and practiced with, and actually has a neumono sized trigger guard. (We'll hive to fire the smg by claw). Plus, the pistol can be used more accurately, especially while dodging or moving, and used in small spaces, and can be used one handed. Considering Polo's strengths, fighting style, and the fact we have an have an injured arm, that seems more important.

The only real advantage of a smg is how quickly it can dump out shots. But considering we have relatively little smg rounds (less than pistol rounds!) I don't see that as much of a help.
>>
No. 507143 ID: 9e1727

Keep the sniper rifle, but clear the chamber and check down the barrel to make sure it's clear and the mechanisms aren't damaged. Next time you fire it don't use HE rounds first, just in case there is a jam or it gets stuck in the barrel.

You can use the sniper rifle as a crutch, which won't burden you as much as carrying it. Just make sure the safety is on, if you don't pull the magazine completely, and point the end of the barrel upwards so it doesn't get rocks and junk stuck in it.

For sure keep the grenade, the grappling hook (since you won't be able to get a replacement, and having it's cable as a rope is invaluable,) the small medical kit (minus the pomi anesthesia,) and your combat knife.

Drop both SMGs and their ammo. You're in no state to fight a fight where their strengths would help you. Keep your pistol and it's ammo, since it's what you're familiar with, it's sized right for a neumono, and it's what you can use one-handed.

If you can keep both bazooka rounds, do so, but leave one behind if you're otherwise overburdened. If you're still overburdened, leave both behind, since it's more important you get back alive than to be burdened and not get back at all.

Keep the LED lantern. It'll only be useful if you lose your visor, and if you lose your visor your chances of getting out of here go way down. But if you have the lantern they'll be a bit better compared to feeling your way along in the dark.

If you still have the plates from the pomi's armor, use them to replace your upper left arm armor. Pull any other plates that are totally broken and worthless and dump them.

Throw everything you discard into a hole in the rubble pile and cover it up so it isn't immediately apparent you got out. If you can, trap the hole with an armed bazooka round if you're going to leave one behind.

Out of curiosity, ask who created Bell. Who it was might explain its propensity to give you sass.
>>
No. 507148 ID: 57a559

If we only care about equipment with mass information, then your total carrying inventory weight is 17.5 kg, to lose half means losing 8.75 kg, round to 9 kgs probably.
2 SMGs (-5kg total)
1 Bazooka round (-2 kg)
1 led light (-1 kg)
aaaaaaannnnnddd... hmm, think you can carry hand that extra .75 kgs? Try it out. If we throw away the second bazooka round, you can keep the LED light while losing juuuuust more than half inventory.
>>
No. 507164 ID: 9e1727

Just thought of a good reason to keep the LED lantern: You're going to need it when you eventually jump in the river to get back to the camp. With the seal on your helmet broken the electronics inside will be vulnerable to the water. To avoid damaging them, you'll have to take the helmet off and either pack it away someplace watertight, or pull the power pack so it doesn't short then wait for it to dry out before plugging it back in. And in either of those situations you'll be blind while riding the river flow unless you have the lantern.
>>
No. 507223 ID: c4e5c2
File 136665854632.png - (53.75KB , 1250x700 , 323.png )
507223

I only had a few plates from the Pomi armor. I replace my arm plates with them, but the foot parts have to remain dumped.

One SMG and one bazooka round are dropped. I drop the medpack casing, and simply put the contents in a pouch, minus the Pomi anaesthesia.

A bit of the remaining bandages are used to cover the bottom of my sniper rifle. Partially to prevent rocks and debris from entering the barrel as I use it as a crutch, but mostly to soften the ends to prevent the sniper from clacking on the ground every step.

With that done, I push all of the abandoned gear under some rocks, and arm the bazooka round I abandon. I do not want to afford the time to lay a well designed trap. The final load is a bit heavier than I would like, but I believe I can make do. The 'half weight' was an initial estimation, and what may have been unnecessarily pessimistic.

The next thing to decide is whether to try to power limp my way through one of these tunnels to get back to base immediately, or attempt to head south and find a place to hide in the hopes that they will believe I got away and lessen the search parties where I was last seen.
>>
No. 507224 ID: 8b9215

Head South into the jaggies if you think you can work west from there back into the main complex.
>>
No. 507225 ID: d6ef5d

Hmm. I see a problem with taking the path to the west. If either of the two teams to the north want to try and circle around the cave to try and get to the other side of the cave in, you're going to be running limping right towards them. (And minus your inventory and medical delay, they could be close, already) Unless there's a way you can conceal yourself and let them pass, I think that means we need to head south or east, and south seems the better option (more hiding spots, can loop around to the west).

Whether you should power limp back to camp or hole up really depends on how quickly you can move. If you're too slow, you're not going to be able to evade searchers, at all. In which case holing up somewhere is the better option. How long do you estimate it would take to make cover the distance to get back, ignoring delays avoiding enemy patrols?

That said, if you can move, it's the better option. If we wait too long to get back, your allies may consider you MIA. Meaning they may come looking for you, or take their own action, or move camp before you can compromise their location. Those are serious risks I'd prefer to minimize, if possible.

Either way, hide or move, I think we need to head south as quickly as possible first. Evaluate your performance as you go- it'll help decide if you should find a hiding spot or keep moving.

>scratched rear camera
If the rear camera isn't going to be any good for seeing shapes, can Bell optimize it instead to watch for movement, and assign an alert? Knowing something is moving behind you is better than nothing.

>in the hopes that they will believe I got away and lessen the search parties where I was last seen
Yeah, that would be good. Better would be if our trap covers up enough evidence that they presume you're dead, but I highly doubt we'll be that lucky.
>>
No. 507226 ID: 57a559

Do you consider the possibility that they will think your dead? You barely cleared that cave in, they're going to investigate for a little bit. They'll be expecting your alive, but they probably won't expect to find a body under all that rubble whether you died or not. If they 100% believe you're alive, then they won't stop because of their assumption that you simply couldn't have gotten far.

So, both options are pretty bad unless your power limps are godly limps and you can get the FUCK out of there. Because, again, they're either thing your dead or close by for a loooooooong time. If you hide, it better be a bitchin' hiding spot. Because they're not going to hold off on investigating the shit out of every corner if they think your alive and limping everywhere.
>>
No. 507228 ID: 001618

limp to a hiding spot for now unless you can limp pretty damn fast. If you can move reasonably well then try and limp back to camp and if not then try and find a good spot to hide in a bit away from the cave in site so you won't be at the focus of the search.
>>
No. 507230 ID: d6ef5d

>>507226
Well, there's a few assumptions the enemy could make, actually:

1) Assume Polo is buried, dig for her, or send a grottle into the rubble Pile.
2) Assume Polo got away clean, respond with a wider search pattern
3) Assume Polo got away poorly, and is injured nearby. Respond with a closer, tighter search.
4) Assume Polo's dead. (As if we'd be that lucky! They're not gonna believe that till they have a body, at this point).

Three is the truth, so it's to our advantage if they believe any of the others.
>>
No. 507240 ID: c4e5c2
File 136666677286.png - (26.24KB , 700x700 , 324.png )
507240

>Do you consider the possibility that they will think your dead?
I consider that possibility to be 0%, or close enough to it.

In any case, I was not planning on walking 10 meters to the closest hiding spot and hope for the best in the fetal position. I am going to power limp as far as I can manage, darting between cover zones, to get a reasonable distance away. Only in hindsight do I wish that I kept my foot plates. They are broken beyond use, but that is the problem - the salikai may identify them, and make the correct conclusion that my foot is broken, telling them a thing or two about how far I could have gone. Though the blood and abandoned gear is good enough for that. I do get my rear camera to function, just to alert me to if there is movement around the scratches.

But I do move to hide, as while I can limp at a decent pace, if I am found, I will not be outrunning anything. And if my foot was not broken, I would settle for anything but a sprint out of here.

They do not go easy on their search. I have to constantly hide from searchers going to the cave-in point. While most neumono alert me to their presence, as usual I cannot rely on it, especially as more arkots filter out from the base to join in the search. It may be awhile until I will have any remote chance of getting out of here, as I expect that the outer tunnels leading out of here are saturated with forces. I hear an explosion back from where I came, most likely the bazooka, but I cannot infer much.
>>
No. 507241 ID: 001618

well you look far enough down that you could probably start heading west and back to camp, just make sure you keep on ducking from cover to cover and don't take any unnecessary risks you should be fine... unless that bastard Murphy decides to say something about it.
>>
No. 507242 ID: d6ef5d

Well, the bazooka round should wreck what gear you left behind, turning it into shrapnel. I don't think they're going to quickly identify which parts you left, thankfully. They're probably going to guess you're injured, though.

Let's go for the long route. Bear south and west- get closer to the base. Get away from the more intense search area, then as you recover and the search spreads out, you can turn N and take the western exit connecting the twisty salikai tunnels to the smoother ones.

Make sure to keep using your knife- we can't rely on empathy to prevent us from walking into searchers.

Keep an eye out for anything that might be a workable longer term hiding spot, though I doubt there's a good one.
>>
No. 507251 ID: f2c20c

>>507240
Keep slowly and safely working your way west. Priority is keeping hidden.
>>
No. 507256 ID: d6ef5d

Huh. Looking carefully at those silhouettes, I think there's a belenos at the end of that party of neumono (well, actually, my first guess would have been a lizardbold, but you don't have those in this setting. So it's gotta be a sheep with an upper an lower set of horns). Odd. We haven't seen any of those in their employ, and they're kinda poor soldiers. I suppose it's rather short, and could just be another mutant miklik.

>Make sure to keep using your knife
And making periodic checks with alternate visor modes! Don't want to get ambushed by cloackers. (Although, if we're alert, the non-Moi suits are imperfect. There are slight distortions you might notice, even with normal vision).
>>
No. 507310 ID: eb682d

>>507256
The silhouette you're seeing is an arkot.
>>
No. 507317 ID: 5bf190

Uhh, Polo, forgive me if this is offensive, or if the question seems idiotic, feel free to ignore me if either so, but I was just thinking of how you all dried yourselves back there, couldn't help but notice the posture you took to do it, and considering the current predicament, I think I should ask...

Can you, er. Can you walk on more than two limbs?
>>
No. 507323 ID: d6ef5d

>>507310
Doy. Completely forgot they had heads like that.

>>507317
...well, we did ride Rokoa that way.

>explosion, bazooka
Speaking of, odd thought. Faking out the enemy with a false grenade / unarmed explosive? We picked that trick up from her, way back in our first fight. And we got the bazooka rounds from her too. Funny how that works out.
>>
No. 507345 ID: 9e1727

Don't bother heading to the exits to the northwest; By the time you get there they'll be guarded. All of the exits out of the caverns around the salikai's base will almost certainly be guarded as well by the time you get to them.

You're going to have to figure Vanski is going to assume you're either buried under the cave-in or ran into these caverns. So while his forces are digging out the rubble, he's going to lockdown the cavern exits, then start moving forces in from outside to search every nook and cranny around the base until you're found. Probably move forces out from inside the base as well, and heavily guard its entrances so you couldn't slip in.

All that means you're stuck in these caverns until your foot heals up enough you can make a push out one of the guarded exits and make a run for it. Looking at the map, the probable entrance to the east that leads into the hunting grounds near Biles would be the best, since it doesn't put you in long tunnels. Best to head east/southeast from where you are and find where that exit is.

There's also another reason to head towards the east exit: You might be spotted by Moi. After you told Biles the plan, it's likely he'd send Moi to scout out the caverns around the radio links. So there's a good chance she came in via the east entrance and will leave via it too. So if you find a spot where you could leave yourself visible to her as she leaves, but could easily spot enemy forces coming your way and hide before they spot you, you just might make contact with her. Though, you'll have to first check that there's a way across the east exit river Moi could take without being detected.
>>
No. 507680 ID: c4e5c2
File 136691452881.png - (75.56KB , 905x1100 , 325.png )
507680

Walking on all of my limbs did not occur to me, but my left arm is injured enough that I will aggravate the nearly rebroken bone if I attempt to walk that way. It is theorized that we are in an unhappy medium between quadrapedal and bipedal. We are more comfortable with bipedal, although not terribly efficient at that form of locomotion. Quadrapedal less so, but some tribals have been known to do so, and I would take that option over the limp if not for my bad arm.

I head to the west, but the search there is heavily saturated, and with a few close calls I back away from those tunnels. I occasionally flick between visor settings, and I am going to assume much of the enemy has the same, so I must absolutely remain out of sight. At least my goggles can still sense small amounts of noise.

There are plenty of hiding spots that might work for a period if the enemy were not aggressively searching every nook and cranny. Therefore, I have to remain in spots that are both hidden, and viable to sneak out of should enemies come my way. I am hesitant to enter small tunnels of which forwards and backwards are the only options, but sometimes squads force me to do so. I end up finding myself going south and eventually east, in no small part because that is the only viable route to go without running into arkots. Finally, at the east end, I located a tunnel out, but it is heavily guarded. I move back, as the search around the tunnels is the most aggressive.

I ended up walking through the tunnels for hours. The occasional unjammed neumono party tells me they are still looking for me, but the search has become so thin that discovery is unlikely as long as I keep focused.

Escape through the tunnels is unlikely as well. It is likely that Vanski will keep a squad at every exit tunnel for a long time, and I do not know what I will or can do until my foot heals. That will be a day before I can step on it, and perhaps a half of a day longer before I can properly run.
>>
No. 507686 ID: d6ef5d

Man, you've passed pretty close to all the bomb placing sites. Too bad we don't have the explosives, already (And that you're not exactly in any shape to plant them).

Possible saving grace: if the search is heavily concentrated here, you may be buying your allies breathing room, at least. And since Bile's faction has your maps, it's possible they make contact with the others, eventually.

If we're really lucky, Niam and Korli got that chatter detector working. If it's directional, your allies should be able to figure out where the enemy search is concentrated, and that from the sustained heightened activity, that you likely haven't been caught yet.

Can't count on Moi showing up for getting help. Even if she thought to come down that passage, walking through a heavy guard blockade is pretty risky, even invisible. And it would take some lucky timing for her to come across you.

Not sure how we're supposed to cope, here. You're trapped, unless you find another way out of these tunnels. I'm doubtful you have sufficient firepower to punch through either of the 3 exits to this area, and even if you did, you're unable to move quickly. You wouldn't be able to take advantage of a hole even if we punched one.

There's no river to ride out in this area, either. Unusual, that. Shouldn't the salikai base need a water supply? I suppose they could be piping it in... which might mean there are pipes somewhere we could use to get out. Although if Korli told them that's how she led you around the last base before she ran off, the security is likely to be better. So that might not be viable. If there were a pipe though, I'd expect it to come out the base to the NE- that's the shortest distance to a river.

How are you doing in other respects? How long can you keep this up without more food or rest? Have you had a chance to check any more of your gear for damage?

...I think our options boil down to keeping up this wandering, trying to hide right under their noses (ie, entering the salikai base), trying to use this time productively (scouting for later, assuming we ever get back to claim those timed explosives from Niam), trying to find another way out (water pipe?) or trying to punch out. (Or well, surrender or suicide).
>>
No. 507697 ID: 9ddf68

i'm surprised that they haven't started pumping this area full of gas yet, I mean hell we went down one random tunnel and were covered in the stuff for hours and here we are right next to the base and haven't even got a whiff of it yet, I find that very odd and a little worrying truth be told.

As for things to do I don't really think we will be able to find an exit throw any of the main exits, at least not without getting into a huge fight, but there might be somewhere you could exit the area that wouldn't be seen as an exit or at least not a viable one. you see anything in your maps that looks like it could get you out of here even if it would be a giant pain in the ass to get out that way? If not then just keep your eyes open for an opportunity to present itself.
>>
No. 507727 ID: 509e51

If your foot is broken, and your arm 'nearly rebroken', it sounds like your arm will heal faster than your foot? So we might still see you on three legs for a short period at some point.

There are a few tunnels that go right up against the base's walls but aren't marked. One of them nearby seems to have very small tunnels leading to it, west and a little south of you. And a nook that's on the map but isn't listed as being connected to by anything? Investigating those might find something useful.
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No. 507743 ID: 9e1727

Considering how many enemy forces are around the cavern exits even if you waited until your foot was completely healed you probably wouldn't be able to punch through them all to get out any of the exits, and sneaking closer to the exit before making your move would be nearly impossible. You're going to have to look for other ways out of here. Either other tunnels to the south or west, a hole down to lower tunnels, a hole up you can grapple up and out of, or somehow into the salikai's base and down the tunnel to the railroad.

But scouting close to the salikai's base or the cavern exits will have to wait until your foot has healed to at least the point you can walk on it; Preferably run. For now head to the southeast caverns and move clockwise around the perimeter of the mapped caverns, looking for hiding spots and tunnels that aren't on the map.

Perhaps with Vanski pulling so many forces in for this search it'll give your allies breathing room out there. It's also possible they'll attempt to enact the escape plan, with Moi taking your place to plant the explosives. Of course, that means Biles will have to have reason to send Moi up to your group's camp. Maybe he'll find out that you're trapped in here when he captures and debugs another Hunter, or by guess from all the enemy forces coming in from the east. So just by giving the enemy the run around in here you could be helping your allies.

>>507697
They probably haven't deployed the hallucinogenic gas yet 'cause they don't know that Polo's helmet has lost its seal. Also, these caverns are significantly bigger than the tunnels, so they'd have to use a lot more gas; Possibly more than they have on hand. They also likely know by now that Polo is resistant to the gas, so it wouldn't be as effective as they'd like. All that taken together means they'll probably hold onto the it until either the search drags on and Vanski gets desperate, or if they spot that Polo's helmet is damaged.

Though, the threat of the gas is enough that if Polo does absolutely need to stop and sleep, she should do so as high up as she can, since the gas will settle out along the ground first.

>>507727
That bit of "dead space" next to the salikai's base wall is there because they built the wall right through the natural caverns and tunnels that were already here. If there is a way to get to it, it'll be from the inside of the base, and if there was a way to it from outside it'd be so long and narrow that the risk of being trapped by the enemy in it is too great to even think about going through it.

The area to the southeast of the base does look like it'd warrant investigation, but not until Polo's foot is healed up to the point she can at least walk.
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No. 507746 ID: c4e5c2
File 136693128087.png - (22.50KB , 700x700 , 326.png )
507746

Once I feel comfortable doing so, I take some time to recheck my gear. To my scrutiny, all of the guns I have should still function.

While I am certain the salikai must get their water from somewhere, it is plausible that their pipelines originate from inside of their base.

The prospects of infiltrating the salikai base just to escape this region are not appealing, but the other idea is to sit here for a day and a half before making a final press out, merely hoping I'll run across something in the meanwhile. As long as I have chances for occasional rest, I should be able to function for that long, even without sleep. I do not have a great deal of food with me, however, and while I will not die without a day and a half of food, I would most likely have to eat my ears to be in the best shape.

I move along the southeast perimeter, but I do not see any more tunnels, or guards to imply that there are tunnels. After another couple of hours, I move towards one of the unmarked sections of the walls that touch the salikai border, gradually, careful to be certain that there is a constant array of hiding spots to move forward with. There are a few cameras I spot, but they are all avoided. With a knife check, I see that there is a cave wall, there. It appears too smooth compared to the rest of the cave, and two arkots standing guard make me believe it is a false wall. What I can do with that information, I don't know.
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No. 507749 ID: 9ddf68

well that's a freaking brilliant idea have two guards stand OUTSIDE of the HIDDEN DOOR, oh how can we beat such masters of deceit and strategy?

But for real unless you think you could get both of the arkots away long enough for you to find the switch to let you in i really don't think you will be getting in through the front door.
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No. 507760 ID: 509e51

Those arkots look like they don't have any communication equipment. There's probably a hidden microphone they can use, or just knock on the wall, or maybe a camera watching them. Still, it looks a better bet for entrance than most will be.

How small is the tunnel you got here through, and the ones to the west? Is it possible that this passage is just for arkots?
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No. 507763 ID: d6ef5d

>eat my ears
...is that even worth the hit to your hearing? They're tiny little flaps. Hardly any meat on them. I'd think you'd be better off keeping your eye out for a glowslug or two to walk off with. There should be some around here somewhere, and if you catch them gently, they don't sound the alarm and alert their guardians (and any hostile wildlife in the immediate vicinity has probably butted heads with the salikai troops and been killed, anyways).

>artificial wall
Likely. That's the outer perimeter of the base, not natural caves. Not sure if the guards and securing a door, or just there to prevent anyone from trying to breach the wall there.

Either way, to you'd have to kill both arkots very quickly to prevent either from raising the alarm. And this is a very bad position for that to happen- this passage is a dead end against the base. You'd be completely trapped. Which, to me, says that engaging here is a bad idea.
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No. 507764 ID: f2c20c

>>507746
I say we take a look via x-ray and thermal to see what it is.
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No. 507769 ID: 9e1727

Either the salikai are completely inept at subterfuge, in that they posted two guards just outside a hidden entrance, giving it away, or they're pretty clever and posted two (weak) guards next to the false wall, making it look like they're inept and there's a hidden entrance there when there is actually none, as a trap or misdirection.

You're not going to be able to get close enough to directly examine the wall for a hidden door, and even if you could you may not be able to find it. But you can back up and find a hiding spot from which to watch that wall for awhile, to see if anybody comes out, or if anybody comes along and heads in. Give it about an hour; Two if you think you can do it without being found. You're going to have to see somebody go in to know how they open the door anyway, if there is a door.

>>507764
This sounds prudent to do as well, though it's unlikely they'd have a hidden entrance that would be so easily found with a cursory check.
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No. 507881 ID: c4e5c2
File 136702298163.png - (154.66KB , 700x700 , 327.png )
507881

>Your ears are tiny little flaps. Is that even worth the hit to your hearing?
Yes. It won't be sufficient for the long term, but it will stop me from starving over the next day. I would like this to not become a reality, nonetheless.

>How small is the tunnel you got here through?
Perhaps in the realm of 20 to 30 meters across, although it thins and expands as it goes. The ones next to me that I did not go through look to be about similar, although the southern one looks thinner.

Thermal and X-ray yield nothing, but I move as far back as I can to still see the wall. After about 45 minutes, two arkots come out and begin speaking - in their clicking language - two the original two guards. They look as though they are all about to move out together.
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No. 507882 ID: 76b151

>>507881
if they are clustered together I'm really, really really tempted to blast them with a grenade and get in there.
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No. 507885 ID: d33ffa

whoa, easy there. how do you expect to run away from the search party as we are now? an explosion is kind of overt
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No. 507886 ID: d6ef5d

>>507882
...it seems a bad idea to me. If these guys have any comm gear, we've got very bad odds of taking out all four before anyone gets the alarm off (if the grenade going off isn't alarm enough to give away our position). Plus, the grenade is kind of supposed to be our emergency suicide holdout- using it to get ourselves caught seems rather counter productive.

And sandwiched between the base and a long, mostly strait corridor is a terrible place to be caught in a fight, if the worst happens. Our choices would flat out be capture and/or death.

Actually. A thought. Even worse than us being captured alive? Is our data being captured- that compromises the locations of our allies. Have Bell ready a batch process- if and when you give him an activation keyword, he's to delete everything (the maps!) and overwrite those memory sectors with randomized chunks of data from the camera recordings (the CAI might be able to pull deleted information, but not if we overwrite it all).

I'd rather hide and let them pass and look for the switch (watch how they close it), provided there's no camera watching the door. Or if we had to kill them, I'd use the machine gun or something- mow them down quickly. Not like arkots wear bio-armor (Um. That's not bioarmor, right? These aren't the ultra rare actually competent arkot commandos, right? :V).
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No. 507888 ID: 41971a

>>507881
>20 to 30 meters across

Damn, that's huge. And I thought they looked small on the map. The cavern against the wall that you're looking into looks smaller than that.

Hmm. Well, they could be going for the northern passage, but if they're going for the more southern passage, they'll probably go through the directly east tunnel rather than the one that curves north of it, since that north-east curve only joins with the southern passage again. So, theoretically, it's very unlikely that they're going to go through the middle passage of the three that are available. Unless that southern one is actually too small? From your description I wouldn't think so.

So you should be able to pull back to the middle passage, and the arkots will miss you. Then you can come back out here to investigate for cameras and a way to get in.
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No. 507889 ID: 9ddf68

watch them for now, try and learn how they get in and out of the base so when we come back here later to blow it to hell we know how to get in. As for the arkots themselves, just let them pass. It's not worth risking our position (especially when we are as beat up as we are) just to take out 4 little arkots. If your sure there are no cameras and no one else coming maybe get close to the door to see if you can't find the 'door handle'.
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No. 507891 ID: 9e1727

Awfully small doorway; Looks only about double arkot height and width. At least you won't have to worry about vernauts coming out, and any giant neumono or Rokoas would have to squeeze through.

While the entrance is still open use your sniper scope to look into the entrance corridor for cameras; You ought to have it at hand already, as your crutch. A camera with a good field of view watching down the corridor would make this entrance a no-go, even if you found out how to open it from the outside. Also check for an inner door. That'd make entering here risky, since you could easily be trapped if detected.

While you're at it, also flip to x-ray to see what kind of comm gear these arkots are carrying. If it's not headsets, then if you have to you may be able to take them down without immediately alerting all of the enemy, if you do it fast enough and not near the entrance.

Watch to see if the arkots do anything to close the entrance from the outside, then slip back into a hiding spot to let them pass; The middle tunnel to the northeast would work. Then ready the SMG set to semi-auto, just in case you're spotted as they go by.

Investigating the wall for hidden controls would look to be the next thing to do, but don't expect any, and if there is something then it'd be very suspect. This is supposed to be a hidden entrance to a hidden base, after all. Anything that could be found on the outside, even by having to be touched, wouldn't make sense to have. The sensible thing would be to only have the doors open by calling in on the radio for it. So any hidden button would almost certainly be a trap that'd raise the alarm, or would at least call guards to open the doors from the inside.

That'd leave the safest way to get in through this entrance as waiting for another group to come along and go in, then slip in after them.
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No. 507892 ID: c4e5c2
File 136704003914.png - (15.29KB , 700x700 , 328.png )
507892

>The map makes it look small
The map is zoomed out. The cavern here against the wall is about 100 meters. The salikai base is about 4 kilometers in diameter. I doubt they they employ all of that room, however.

I take a closer look at them with my sniper.

It's a worrisome risk, given that I will appear in blazing red should any of them have thermal, but those goggles do not look advanced. Rather, aside from the guns, the two latter arkots appear to be wearing diving gear.

Unless they are just being idiotic, they are going diving.

Combined with them leaving the base, this implies that there is a river somewhere down here on the outside of the salikai base.
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No. 507893 ID: d6ef5d

Hey, let's hide, let these guys go past, and then follow them. See where the river they're taking is.

Seems a better idea than trying to enter the base (hella risky, and the CAI would probably note an electronic external door being opened even if we did find a hidden switch).

We might end up having to murder these guys for their air supplies, though. How long could you hold your breath underwater without your helmet seal?
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No. 507894 ID: 9ddf68

well there is either a river nearby that wasn't mapped for whatever reason or they are heading to the river you came from to try and find your camp. either way these little bastards may be our ticket out of here if we can follow them without getting caught.
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No. 507895 ID: f2c20c

>>507892
We could use more air tanks. Also, you can move relatively easily underwater with your foot like that.

Let's follow them. Don't shoot them, even right at the river- the salikai forces will immediately try to cover the river exits if we do.
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No. 507898 ID: 9e1727

Well, you don't have any better option right now, so follow these arkot divers. Hide, wait for them to pass, then tail them.

Even if they don't lead you to a river route out of here they might be checking another body of water that has hiding spots they're searching for you; Ones that you can use once they check them and leave.

First chance you get, pull the scope from your sniper rifle. It'll be much easier to use without detection if separated from the rifle. That'll allow you to use it to trail farther behind these arkots without losing sight of them.

Since there's a fair chance you'll be going underwater soon, how good is the waterproofing on your helmet's electronics? Better ask Bell about how well they'll fare if your helmet is submerged as it is before you dive in anywhere.
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No. 507900 ID: d33ffa

>>507892
you gotta follow them now!
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No. 507939 ID: c4e5c2
File 136708728342.png - (37.69KB , 700x700 , 329.png )
507939

"Bell, if I utter the keyphrase 'pigiron pomi', delete all stored data. Furthermore, how does the electronics of the helmet do in water?"
>"Phrase deletion established. This helmet will shut off should it become waterlogged to protect it from damage. This is likely, given current damages. It is advised to wait until the helmet is dry, then to turn it back on."

So water will not break it, but it will not function during a river run. I will have to either use my scope for night vision, or the LED lantern if I enter water.

I follow their scurrying selves along. They move quicker than I would like, and through a non branching tunnel, but the cave is still erratic and easy to hide in. I manage to follow them to the sound of a river. Annoyingly, I would have found it had I not given up going north along the eastern perimeter as soon as I saw the nearby guarded tunnel.

The river is under guard, so I break off from the arkots. I move up a small side tunnel that inclines above a short overhang I can see from.

2 Voklits, 2 hunters on guard. The two diving arkots jump in, leaving 2 arkots as well. That is all I can see. There may be more out of sight. The arkot at the opposite end makes me believe that this cave may connect to the other guarded passage. The river flows south, but I have no way of knowing if it bends or where it leads.
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No. 507941 ID: 9ddf68

well this can't be the only spot to enter/exit the river, maybe move a bit till you can find a less guarded spot in the river to enter, and maybe wait a bit for the search party to move away and for you to heal a bit more.
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No. 507943 ID: d6772a

>>507939
why are you trying to get to the river again? you seem to have lost your pursuers, escape! you're still alive, that's good enough.
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No. 507944 ID: d6ef5d

Huh. Water North and East of the base. Told-ya.

Not... the best tactical situation. There's 6 of them, we're close to the tunnel connecting to Bile's area (so enemy reinforcements are close). They're close together at least, so you could open with an explosive round or two (trying to disable the two hunters, the near arkot, and the voklit) and then switching to machine gun fire to finish them off. Problem is that could take too much time, or if goes wrong, trap you in a firefight. And, once (if) the enemy is down, you're going to have to move quickly to the water (which you aren't in much shape to do. Grappling over faster than limping, maybe?).

...and if we do make it in, there are two arkots ahead of us. (Not that they're much of a threat). If it comes to underwater combat, guns won't be worth much. You'll have to deal with the divers with your knife, and abuse the fact that you're stronger than the arkots, and armored. (Inverse of our the usual situation actually. You don't usually have the melee advantage).

Not sure how we could prevent being followed. Maybe if we can drop a voklit body in the river, we can attract some carnivorous fish. While they're swarming and eating at the entrance, it wouldn't be safe for anything to enter in pursuit of us.

Biggest problem is the river runs south. If we're lucky, it goes out, curves east, and connects to the mapped river running NNW and will take us back towards the center of the map, closer to where we want to go (um, that river does go NNW, and not SSE, right?). If we're unlucky? Strait south just dumps us in more of the salikai tunnels (altough, you've explored some to the south of here, and didn't notice any river exits / entrances. So maybe there's good hope it it curves the way we want).

I guess the choice comes down to attacking now, waiting for a good moment to strike, or backing off and resuming our hiding and wandering. And I suppose I favor punching out. We can't hide forever- with enough searchers and enough cameras, eventually they'll get lucky. Or you'll get tired and make a mistake.

...at least if we make it out here, you won't be eating your ears. There will be some glowslugs you can snack on wherever it is we'll exit the river.

>>507943
Because we're currently trapped. We haven't escaped- we're blocked inside a section of caves with only three tunnels in and out, and they're all guarded while search parties scour the area to us. This river is hopefully another way out. And punching out here is more viable than taking a tunnel- we can ride a river a lot better than we can run with Polo's broken foot.
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No. 507948 ID: c4e5c2
File 136709895205.png - (28.48KB , 700x700 , 330.png )
507948

>Why are you trying to get to the river again?
Because every tunnel leading out is heavily guarded. So is this river, but unlike a tunnel, I can jump in and be washed away. With a tunnel, I would have to limp away from a horde of forces descending on me. I can hold my breath, without my helmet, for well over an hour.

I am tempted to keep going along the eastern perimeter to seek another spot, but I am certain that the salikai have mapped this entire section of cave well, and have every river entry spot guarded. While I expect there are other river entry points, I doubt there are better ones. Plus, eventually I may get blindsided by a camera again, and unfortunately playing it cool and continuing walking will not work so well while I have a distinguishable limp.

The hunters are well trained and appear attentive. The voklit appear bored, and the arkots are hardly competent minions, and so they move around on occasion. So I wait for a good time to strike. The hunters are my biggest concern for the initial strike. While I wish to take out the voklits immediately, the hunters are likely to be using augmented vision that will see me as soon as I poke out. I want to be able to strike the voklits down before the neumono have a chance to lock onto me. After what feels like a half hour's wait, it happens.

The goggle wearing voklit is blocking the female's vision from me, and the other voklit starts walking to another spot, about to get four of them in relative proximity for any explosion while simultaneously, if just for a second, blocking the male hunter's vision while he walks by. Both arkots have their back turned.

I do not expect there will be a better time than this. I could open with a frag grenade, and pop out with sniper HE rounds if I am to take absolute minimum chances with my survival. Otherwise, I can go with lighter fire if I wish to leave this cavern with more ideal leftover supplies.
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No. 507949 ID: d6772a

>>507948
we are not under any time constraints. get to safety and we'll get more supplies later. go all out.
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No. 507950 ID: 735f4f

The hunters are the biggest threat so we need to take them down first. With there link to 4 stripes they can relay any info about what happens if we don't take them out first.

As for supplies we want to use whatever is needed. A well cooked grenade in the middle and a he round or two to follow should keep them from avoiding the blast. The little guys you should be able to take out with normal ammo.
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No. 507951 ID: f2c20c

>>507948
Frag, one HE round to start things off, then AP rounds on the armored hunters, and normal rounds for the arkot and voklits.

We still have a good deal of armor coverage, remember. If we use AP rounds on the neumono we can salvage some of their armor. Though I also wonder if we have the time for it.

At any rate, HE rounds are extremely important for fighting Rokoa clones. Without them we'll just die to the next one. We have to conserve them.
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No. 507954 ID: d6ef5d

Inventory says... we have 6 HE rounds left? As loath as I am to spend another 2 or 3 of them, we need to prioritize speed with this exit. Get into the water and away before reinforcements can arrive.

Go with your plan. Open with the grenade, Spend what HE rounds are necessary, but no more. Finishing off the arkots, or making sure downed voklit are dead, can be done with the machine gun and/or pistol.

Get into water ASAP, once the fight is over. No time for looting the bodies (unless something useful is right out in the open and you can snag it as you pass- like a ration pack, or a new grenade).

I still like the idea of trying to making sure one or more of the bodies lands in the water. Let your pursuers be blocked by flesh eating fishies in full on feeding frenzy (granted, there's a risk to us, but we'll be moving away, and hopefully the stationary corpses will keep 'em busy for a while. And we're mostly armored anyways- Polo would just have to cover the exposed portion of her face and foot).

Hmm. The science hive designed your gun. The hunters have to have at least a few snipers in their hive. So logically, there should be someone, somewhere with the ammo we need. Too bad we've yet to see any. Heck, I'd almost be happy to come across a Polo clone to murder for ammunition.

It's also noteworthy that with our last grenade spent, we have no guaranteed way to keep ourselves from a fate worse than death. A neumono can't exactly suicide with a pistol, and it would be awkward to try and snipe yourself with an HE round. Our only failsafe option (aside from avoiding capture) would be to try and force our attackers to kill us.
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No. 507957 ID: 735f4f

The grenade might be enough to let us take the 4 that are grouped up without using any of our HE rounds if we cook it long enough.

The hunters are the ones we might need them for as the rest of them will go down to regular rounds without to much of a problem.

The problem is if we use a HE round directly on one of the hunters we probably wont be able to salvage any of there gear. And on the other hand if we don't they might be able to be kept up by the bugs even if we get a direct shot in.

So maybe one grenade then two HE rounds for the hunters and then regular ammo for the rest.

And if anything goes wrong then all best are off.
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No. 507959 ID: 9e1727

Go all in. Saving back ammo will do you no good if you get captured or killed here. And you're going to have to hit hard and fast anyway so you'll have enough time to get into the water before reinforcements arrive.

Cook the grenade for a precision toss so it detonates midair in the middle of that group of four. If you can, throw it without sticking any part of you out where the voklit with the goggles can see, since it may have thermal vision. But if you can't do that, then aim to quickly pop out and pitch it so it closes the distance as fast as possible.

Only use the HE rounds on the Hunters, and then only to shoot the heads of those that still have working augmented vision visors. You don't have the ammo or time here to kill the Hunters, so the best you can do is blind them.

For the rest of the enemy that's still alive and hasn't run off, use regular rounds. Preferably pistol and SMG over sniper rifle, if you can manage that. But if they're hiding behind cover and blind firing you don't have time to wait for them to pop out. In that situation you'd best get down the slope and make your way from cover to cover to the river, even if there is some gunfire flying your way.

On the way to the water snap up any supplies that were blown off or dropped by the Hunters or arkots, if any. Unfortunately that'll be the most supplies you can safely get out of this encounter.

Once in the water and heading downstream, look for tunnels that are too small for anyone bigger than you to get through. There probably are some, since the salikai sent diving arkots down instead of voklits or anyone bigger than an arkot.

>>507952
Polo still has that bazooka round, so if it does come down to the bitter end she can arm and eat that instead.
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No. 507961 ID: c4e5c2
File 136711397711.png - (162.38KB , 1000x700 , 331.png )
507961

I open with a cooked grenade.

>"DUC-" the outer hunter yells, but it's too late.
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No. 507962 ID: c4e5c2
File 136711406229.png - (120.92KB , 700x700 , 332.png )
507962

The outer hunter not struck thinks fast enough to throw a grenade at me. Whether or not it knew this, I cannot run. The grenade flies past me in the tunnel, but lands in effective range. I am forced to simply half jump and half roll out of the tunnel before it explodes.

Nevertheless, I get an HE round into his chest as I fall before he switches to his gun. I consider myself fortunate I did not miss at all, and although it was not his head, hitting his chest will most likely disable his guns.
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No. 507963 ID: c4e5c2
File 136711408047.png - (29.96KB , 700x700 , 333.png )
507963

I fall into cover just to see the other hunter lob her grenade at me before I can get up. She recovered fast. I am almost under the impression, now, that they are under orders to use their supplies so I cannot take them.
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No. 507964 ID: f2c20c

>>507963
Slap it away and return fire! Just one left. Use AP rounds.
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No. 507965 ID: 735f4f

He had no time to cook it so if you act quickly you can grab and toss it back.
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No. 507966 ID: d6ef5d

...well, we can't move, and that grenade is aimed right for you. Wacking it away (and back at them) is really your only move.

Batter up.
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No. 507967 ID: 9e1727

You know the length of a standard grenade's fuse, so choose from the following options based on how long its been since that Hunter threw the grenade before it explodes:

If you think you have enough time, speed and dexterity to grab the grenade out of the air and throw it back at the Hunter (or at least far enough your cover will take the brunt of the blast) or slap it back, and get behind cover, do this.

If you don't think you have enough time, speed, or dexterity to grab the grenade and throw it back or slap it back, but enough to slap it away in a different direction so it lands behind a rock or some other terrain that'll deflect the blast, or at least get it farther away from you, do that instead.

If you're still holding your sniper rifle, and you think it'd be better in some way to smack the grenade away with it in either of the above options than using your hand, use it instead.

However, if you don't have enough time, speed, or dexterity to do any of the above, then all you can do is try to get away and mitigate the damage. Get your armored good leg under you and push away while holding your unarmored leg up against your body to shield it. This way the blast will knock you away, but might not blow your unarmored leg or foot off.
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No. 507968 ID: 9ddf68

ok the grande most likely isn't cooked at all so you could just grab it when it lands and throw it back. After you deal with hunter number two use your smaller gun to take out the arkots and make a B line for the river and get out of here before they can send reinforcements and/or block off the river cutting off your only viable escape route.
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No. 507971 ID: ff24ac

>>507963
are you badass enough to swat that thing back at them?
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No. 508013 ID: c4e5c2
File 136716700564.png - (54.25KB , 700x700 , 334.png )
508013

>Are you badass enough to swat that thing back at them?
I do not appear to be badass enough for that. The opportunity was missed, as it already struck the wall behind me. What I am, however, is desperate enough to leap at it and fling it back to them hastily. It explodes halfway, likely doing little to no damage to anyone. On the bright side, that includes myself.

The hunter starts firing at my cover, and not just enough to pin me down. She is expending her ammo quickly. I stick my knife out to see the need to pin me so intensely. One of the damn voklits is still moving, and he's scraping himself along the ground to get his gun. I believe he will get it by the time she runs out of ammo.
>>
No. 508014 ID: 9ddf68

think you could use your SMG to blind shot the voklit while aiming though your knife? if so try that if not use an HE round to kill/stun the hunter and then use normal rounds to take out the voklit, then limp towards the river.
>>
No. 508015 ID: d6ef5d

...man we look such a mess. Hopefully the swim will clear up some of that mess of smudge marks.

Your options for fixing this basically boil down to the smg or the rifle. Preferably by coming out of cover to the left, so the right, unarmored side of your face isn't open to a lucky machine gun shot.

Putting some machine rounds in the voklit fixes that problem, and it's probably easier to wildly shoot at him, than to get off the precise shot to take out the hunter with your rifle.
>>
No. 508022 ID: 8b318c

I wonder if you can momentarily paralyze or distract someone who's bugged by shouting at them that they're being mind controlled by bugs, or telling them you intend to remove them. Unlikely if they're being directly controlled by Four Stripes, but if they're not, then maybe?

You could try the fake grenade trick, but again, if the hunter's being directly controlled she might just ignore it or jump on it or something.
>>
No. 508042 ID: f2c20c

>>508013
Blind fire with the SMG or pistol (whichever you feel more comfortable with) to take out the voklit. It's a large target.
>>
No. 508044 ID: 9e1727

Looking at this situation, the best course of action appears to be to take out the voklit right before or right as he gets his hands on his gun. That'll leave the hunter with low or no ammo in her magazine for when you deal with her.

Your cover appears to extend to your left, and possibly to your right. If this is correct, and you have time to, quickly reposition to where you'll have a better shot on the voklit's head. If you can, stay low so the hunter doesn't know where you're going.

You know pretty much where the voklit will be, so it'll be relatively easy to target his head when you pop out. If you repositioned without the hunter knowing where you went, you'll have just enough time to aim and fire a regular round from the sniper rifle before she can turn her gun on you.

Otherwise, if she does know where you are, you can try the fake grenade trick before you fire. Throw the bazooka round so it lands close enough to the voklit to threaten him, but also where the hunter could throw herself on it to protect him.

If by a stroke of luck the hunter does throw herself on the "grenade," or does anything else where she stops firing, pop out and nail the voklit in the head with a regular sniper round.

Otherwise you're going to have to resort to the SMG, since her gunfire has a good chance of knocking your rifle aim too far off. Pop out and burst fire into the hunter to try and disrupt her aim long enough you can unload into the voklit enough to make sure he's not going to fire his gun.
>>
No. 508381 ID: c4e5c2
File 136743969270.png - (41.10KB , 700x700 , 335.png )
508381

"You're being mind controlled, hunter!"

No harm in trying, but the result is unsurprisingly nothing but more fire. I move to the left side, with the smg out, so that my lack of armor on the right side of my face remains behind maximum cover.

The hunter appears to try and leap between me and the voklit to block the bullets, but she was too far out of position. I connect with the voklit several times, enough to neutralize it. She stops firing, although I am uncertain if she is out of ammo. Rather, she opts now to simply charge at me to get into close range, and I am not armed with a great deal of stopping power.
>>
No. 508382 ID: 32e092

Look at that pile of replacement armor components just running right at us!
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No. 508383 ID: c51b3b

see if you can at least make some shots connect with her arms, if any can get through the armour it'll make her attempts at grappling harder on you giving you an advantage
>>
No. 508385 ID: dd335b

Think an AP round would stop her or several
>>
No. 508386 ID: 76b151

blow out one knee so she goes skidding, then demolish the rest of her.
>>
No. 508388 ID: d6ef5d

Can you gauge how tough this hunter is from her empathy?

Your choices here boil down to using one of our dwindling HE rounds, or using possibly several AP rounds (and possibly more time).

If you think it will be enough to stop her, I would prefer to put an AP round through her head or chest. If she's too tough for that to work, HE to the chest or face will end this in one shot.

It would be nice if you could not damage her visor, though. Then you can grab her helmet on the way by, and we can use it for replacement parts later. Not sure how much time we have to grab replacement armor components, if she has stuff in your size, actually. On the one hand, yes, armor good, on the other, we gotta get the hell out of here before reinforcements / pursuers arrive.

The other hunter is likely down for the count. An explosive round to the chest-armor means more than broken equipment- he's looking at a lot of trauma and broken bones.
>>
No. 508394 ID: 9e1727

The most effective option here would be to use an HE round on the hunter, if you can get your rifle ready to fire quick enough that she isn't nearly point-blank when you do. Drop your SMG on the ground to save time, pull your rifle and move to the right behind the partial cover of the rock. The rock will shield you from the blast enough that you won't take more injuries that'll slow you down.

However, if you don't have enough time to pull your rifle or doing so would put her too close to use a HE round, you're going to have to use the SMG. While you might be able to use AP rifle rounds, with her being bugged up you'd have to land a shot on her knee to slow her enough for you to get away.

Aim the SMG at her visor and burst fire while stepping back, switching to full auto as she gets closer. You're aiming to take her eyes or visor out, or at least put so much impact damage on the visor she can't see through the spider cracks.
>>
No. 508447 ID: d6772a

switch to AP rounds and try to disable her.
>>
No. 508453 ID: f2c20c

>>508381
I think we should try one regular round to see how well it penetrates that armor. Lacking good results from that, use AP rounds to aim for vital points, and try not to damage any armor plates you need for replacement armor.
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No. 508457 ID: d6ef5d

>>508453
...while it's possible our sniper rifle might be high powered enough for even a normal round through armor at close (and rapidly closing) range, I'd prefer not to experiment at this moment. We are hard pressed for time here (got to get the hell out before enemy reinforcements arrive from the nearby tunnel exit they were guarding, and they could have voklit running at full tilt) and we can't really afford to face the hunter in melee if it doesn't work (pistol and knife are pretty ineffective against armor, and we can't maneuver with a bum leg).
>>
No. 508469 ID: 509e51

Not sure if just telling them they're mind-controlled would work, if this sort of thing works at all. Rokann was totally aware she was bugged and under influence and remained in control, she was only forced to freak out when you showed intent to remove the bugs. Telling the hunter something like that might be more effective, but it might only result in a violent response, which isn't any sort of improvement. Or change, really.

Shoot her as much as you can, then pull back and be ready to give her the shiv. She should have to slow down a little to get over/around your cover. You have been training for close combat, you'll need to try it sooner or later. Preferably later, given your injuries, but them's the breaks. So far, I don't think the hunters have been wearing any bioarmour, have they? The salikai's own neumono have, but they're the big science guys to begin with. The hunter queen had part of her ears uncovered, and I'd have expected bioarmor to grow down to cover them. But then, Rokooa was wearing bioarmor, and I wouldn't have thought the hunter queen would have been dumb enough to be unarmored and fight armored Rokooa, or for Rokooa to strip down whatever ungodly percentage armor she was wearing to fight and then slip it back on so quickly.

You'll have to just hope this one's not wearing bioarmour, then, so you can still be stronger than her despite the size advantage. Or, at least, that whatever she is wearing is weaker than yours.
>>
No. 508470 ID: d6ef5d

>>508469
Bioarmor is pricey, and logistically problematic because you have to test who can use what. It's more of a special forces thing than something you try to deploy across an entire military force. (Unless your entire force is small enough, and all tough SoBs :V ). There's likely some hunters wearing some, but they're going to be the exceptional troops anyways.

It was probably expensive and complicated enough for the ultrahive(s) and the rescued science hivers to reverse engineer and design all that greenie armor, get it manufactured, and get the entire hunter hive equipped and ready to be deployed at a moment's notice as soon as the salikai were found. (Only to have all the effort wasted when the Salikai suborned the hunters).

>You have been training for close combat
That training mostly focused on movement and evasion. All of which is basically useless with Polo's leg injury. And her injured arm really can't handle much in the way of soaking or delivering blows. If it comes to close combat we're basically fucked.

>Rokoa's ungodly percentage armor
It couldn't be that high a percentage. It let too much of our fire got through. The 94% stuff let / will let Rokoa shug off a point blank artillery firing squad, whereas Polo took half took off her head with one HE round.
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No. 508507 ID: c4e5c2
File 136754153722.png - (38.30KB , 700x700 , 336.png )
508507

I use my SMG and aim for the eyes. The visor does not get penetrated, but it does get cracked enough to virtually blind the hunter. It returns fire, getting a few shots connected on me by the time its ammo runs short, all by sheer virtue of being close. No shot that hits me is critical, but the wear and tear continually adds up.
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No. 508508 ID: c4e5c2
File 136754154666.png - (40.97KB , 700x700 , 337.png )
508508

I get down on an arm and a leg and hobble out of the way from the hunter's idea of where I am. It's trying to yank off its helmet and pull a secondary weapon out, and I'm not far away. I only have a few shots remaining in my current SMG, and I bought just enough time that bringing out my sniper is doable.

An HE round is still too close for comfort, but far enough to not provide crippling damage to myself if I choose to fire one into her. An AP or normal round may be ideal now, but the river flows ahead of me, and I may be able to simply flee into the water. While I would not be able to forage with this fleeing option, I imagine that salikai forces are sprinting this way, although I cannot hear anything as of yet.
>>
No. 508509 ID: 76b151

cripple her, then try and loot the helmet of the other hunter. Then we go.
>>
No. 508510 ID: f2c20c

>>508508
Yank off its helmet? Its throat would be exposed. Use your knife. That won't kill her, right? If a neck wound is likely to kill her rather than just have her pass out from blood loss, nail her in the stomach or something with an AP round. Though, I still want to try a regular rifle shot to see if it can penetrate that armor.
>>
No. 508511 ID: af8414

just run/swim away
>>
No. 508514 ID: d6ef5d

Part of me just wants to get out of here. Fastest way out would be to just grapple over to the river (you can probably do that faster than you can run or walk right now).

But if the hunter remains mobile and functional, she'll just jump in the river after you. And underwater, her size, and your injured arm and leg, give her a significant combat advantage. Not to mention the enemy could track you by her empathy and/or bugs.

Sniper rifle her. AP if you can get the gun up before her helmet is off, otherwise reward her speed in disrobing by putting a regular round through her head.

...once that's done, I'm not sure there's much time for looting at all. This has already dragged on too long. Reinforcements have to be on the way.

>smg almost empty
Completely, or just this clip?

>>508510
We can't move quickly enough to sneak up on her for that, and if it didn't work Polo would be horribly disadvantaged in melee range. All our opponent has to do is grapple us long enough to let reinforcements arrive, and Polo's got a fragile arm and broken foot.
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No. 508527 ID: c4e5c2
File 136754684207.png - (24.20KB , 700x700 , 338.png )
508527

The smg is put back on my strap, of which while I have 34 smg shots remaining, only 4 remain in the gun itself. The hunter gets a normal shot from me through her head once she takes her helmet off. The bugs must be active, as she barely flinches while starting to turn around to chase me. I take out her second eye, this time getting her to reel back. I quickly move so that she cannot shoot me based on where she thinks I am, although she certainly tries and fails until she is out of ammo. That went smoothly.
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No. 508528 ID: d6ef5d

Well, Sayonara, greenie.

Get to the water and get the hell out of here. No time for looting (especially with one hunter moving and the other one possibly only disabled) unless something good happens to be right in your path.

Hookshot yourself over the river with your grapple, if that's viable and faster than walking.
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No. 508530 ID: f2c20c

>>508527
I wish it was feasible at all to capture one of the hunters we just downed to extract the bugs.

Grab the more intact helmet from the exploded hunter, any other immediately obvious useful things from them (like rations) and get in that river.
>>
No. 508537 ID: 76b151

>>508530
yup
>>
No. 508538 ID: d6ef5d

The problem with attempting to loot the downed hunter is then the blind one suddenly knows which direction to start shooting in via empathy.
>>
No. 508546 ID: f2c20c

>>508538
She's out of ammo. Really the only issue is that she might try to smack us around, and we've got two injured limbs so that won't go well for us.
>>
No. 508556 ID: d6ef5d

>>508546
She's only out of machine gun ammo. She was drawing a secondary weapon.

And even if she doesn't have a gun, she could still bum rush us if the other hunter compromises our position. Really, if the downed guy is even in good enough shape to grab us or our sniper crutch with one hand, that's too big a problem and delay. We can't afford to draw this out any longer.

Vamoose.
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No. 508557 ID: 9ddf68

to the river and lets get out of here because we have no idea weather or not they have more chock points further up or down this river so it would be better if we can get past them now before they can dig in at these points.
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No. 508577 ID: 6c685a

think you can shove her in the river and take her with you to be debugged? how close is the river exit to the base?

if that's not viable, try to not kill her as you loot. she can be saved after all. only kill her if you're left with no choice, not for loot.
loot the other guys if you need to instead, but you want replacement armor parts and the helmet she took off for its computer.
>>
No. 508596 ID: 9e1727

While the safest option right now is to make a bee-line to the river and jump in, you desperately need supplies; Specifically rations. You have no idea how far away this river will take you, or if there'll be hunting possibilities there. It'd be just your luck to escape the salikai's forces only to starve in the depths.

Head towards the hunter you shot in the chest while swapping the magazine in your SMG for the full one and watching out for any arkots that might have survived the fight to take pot shots at you.

Once at the hunter, loot quickly, because as soon as he sees you Four Stripes is going to relay what he sees to the blinded hunter so she can take a run at you. Depending on position, you might be able to back off, make noise, and lead her over to where you could shove her into the river, but don't count on it.

If you can, undo the hunter's utility belt, or cut it loose if undoing it would take too long, and just pull the whole thing off; You can rifle through it later. Otherwise just dump the pouches out so you can grab the rations, maybe a spare magazine if the caliber looks the same as your SMG, and anything else that looks of value.

If you think you could do it quick enough, also pull an armor plate or two to replace your most damaged ones. As for his helmet: Unless you know for sure they have an easy to reach hardware level "wipe everything" button you could use, taking the helmet would be akin to carrying around a tracking beacon for the salikai. But if it does have such a button, then if it's the right size helmet, and you can get it off in a timely manner, then go for it.

Also take a detour to pick up one of the guns the hunters dropped, if they aren't really far from the river. Preferably the one from the downed hunter, since his wasn't fired at all.

>"That went smoothly."
Polo, you know better than to tempt fate by even thinking that. Now something horrible is going to happen, like the river being full of flesh-flaying fish and a half-dozen cloaked jammed Rokoas descending on this position.
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No. 508665 ID: c4e5c2
File 136768921310.png - (50.09KB , 700x700 , 339.png )
508665

I did not mean to jinx myself, but it was merely the last two shots that went smoothly. As a whole, this has been distinctly rough going.

I don't want to spend more than seconds looting. Both hunters are still conscious, the female simply cannot see, and the male is broken. I cannot loot them without spending time either completely crippling them or killing them.

The male hunter did drop a gun of his, however, so I do pick that up on my way to the river.

My pistol is out in case the arkot on the opposite side pops out while I attempt to dive. He does not.
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No. 508666 ID: c4e5c2
File 136768923232.png - (57.87KB , 700x700 , 340.png )
508666

My visor automatically shuts off once it becomes waterlogged. I can only rely on my own intuition on where I am going, and I do not trust it so readily. Unfortunately I am forced to use my LED lantern, as while it may make it clear that I am coming, the alternative is going through pitch black water.

The river is fast, and I see a large opening that may allow for an exit about one and a half minutes after diving.
>>
No. 508667 ID: 9ddf68

turn off the lantern as you get close to the opening and then take a quick look up. If it looks safe and out of the Salikai kill zone see if you can't limp your way back to base and patch yourself up a bit, if the opening is a no go however then you'r going to have to just keep going down the river. Just turn the lantern back on once you think it's safe or are afraid you'll hit something without it on.
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No. 508671 ID: d6ef5d

Only a minute and a half?

Any estimate as to your speed, and what direction you are headed in? If you're headed west, and or north and west, this might open into the tunnels on the other side of the enemy blockade, close to where Bile and Moi are. If you're headed south, this likely just opens up sided more of the salikai tunnels (so you'll be at eastern edge or south-eastern edge instead of the north-eastern).

Either way, I think it's too close to enemy troops. I would agree that dousing your lantern as you pass is a good idea.

If and when we exit the water, by the way, be sure to look around and see if there are any nearby glowslugs. Then tend to hang near water, and they're a relatively easy food source (provided you can sneak some without them calling from help from invisible guardians). Beats eating your ears, anyways.
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No. 508683 ID: 9e1727

At a minute and a half out, unless this river is insanely fast or it took a sharp turn north or downwards, you're still inside the salikai's territory; Most likely at or in front of that cavern exit to the east, based on the direction the river was flowing. That means there's almost certainly going to be guards up there. And even if there aren't any guards, there's going to be a camera watching which will call the enemy down on you, and in your shape you'd just have to turn right back and jump back in the river again.

Best to turn your lantern off right now, then get as low as you can and actively start swimming to get past here as fast as you can. The enemy might have already figured you jumped in the river, so any guards up there might jump in to try and get you, or follow you. They might even throw explosives in to soften you up for attempt to capture you downstream. So getting past here quickly is important.

Once you're clear, could you anchor your grappling hook launcher to your armor or belt? That way if you get in a situation where you need to stop for some reason, you can get swim close to the river wall, pull the grappling hook, and hook it in. Might even be able to "climb" back up against the current this way, if you just barely miss a turn.

Could you also pull the night scope off your rifle and use that to see while you're in the water? Though there'd be a risk of dropping it if you were jarred, unless you looped it to your hand somehow.

>>508671
"West?" Don't you mean "east?" 'Cause west would put Polo even further back into salikai territory.
>>
No. 508685 ID: d6ef5d

>>508683
...yes, I meant east.
>>
No. 508700 ID: c4e5c2
File 136769802621.png - (61.76KB , 700x700 , 341.png )
508700

It is extremely difficult for me to tell how fast I am going, but a minute and a half is not long. The river does bend, and I am heading to the east, although I expect that I should not trust my senses for too long. I can easily be turned around without realizing it.

I turn my lantern off regardless of what I do. Thankfully, the science hive saw fit to have a 1x magnification on the scope, so it allows usage as a simple night vision scope.

Even if I am not in the vicinity of salikai territory, I am sure they are aware of this location. There could even be a camera installed. Without my goggles, I would not know. So I swim low, since there is a reasonable chance there are guns pointed at the river.

Once I begin passing the exit, I hear a splash behind me. My scope gets the sight of a voklit paddling towards me.
>>
No. 508702 ID: 76b151

oh hey... I hope your pistol works under water.

Headshot if it does. Knife out if it doesn't.

IF you do kill him take his gun.
>>
No. 508703 ID: 9ddf68

... well shit, think it sees you, I think it sees you. got any guns that work underwater because if you do I say wait for the thing to get a little closer to you then blow it's brains out. If you don't have any guns then that just leaves you with your last grenade and a one shot chance of getting out of this alive. Really hoping your guns work here.
>>
No. 508705 ID: d6ef5d

Well, shit.

Voklit are at least partially aquatic, what with the hidden gills Viln told you about. And that thing is probably a much stronger swimmer than you, although hauling that gun may slow him down a little bit.

Options? Will any of your firearms function underwater? Could you shoot him with the pistol? Or... if underwater use poses a risk of permanent damage to the weapon, use either the pomi or neumono machine gun? In any event, going knife to giant fist is not an attractive option (almost wish we had a plasma sword now- that would work underwater, and likely catch him off guard).

Are there branch points in the tunnel? Could you take a passage too small for him to follow?
>>
No. 508711 ID: 9e1727

...Dammit. Of course it can't ever be easy, can it?

Alright, unless your sniper rifle is capable of being fired underwater, you're flat out of ranged options here. Even if any of the other ones could be fired while submerged, the water would sap their bullets' velocity so quickly you'd have to be within grabbing distance of the voklit for them to do damage.

If your sniper rifle can be fired in these conditions, then pull it out, slap the scope back on, and wait for the voklit to almost get into grabbing range before nailing him in the head with a regular round.

Otherwise, if your rifle can't be fired while submerged, there is a way to lose him if the river is wide enough you can evade his grasp as he passes. Turn ahead and look for a spot you can catch your grappling hook on while kicking your good foot to keep as much distance from the voklit as you can; It'll look like you're trying to futilely swim away. As soon as you spot where you can hook it wait until the last second to deploy your grappling hook, dive at it, and hook it in. If you miss the voklit's grasp he will be swept downriver, and even a voklit wouldn't be able to swim against this current.

But if you don't think you can pull off either of these, all you can do is turn your view forwards, swim as fast as you can, and hope there's a branch that's too small for the voklit to fit in that's not too small for you.
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No. 508713 ID: c4e5c2
File 136770253287.png - (44.01KB , 700x700 , 342.png )
508713

I will watch where I am going for any small passageways as well as any non smoothed rocks that I can use a grappling hook on, and I turn on my LED since the voklit is not hiding that it is able to see me regardless.

My pistol, and other weapons, are not made for underwater use. However, my guns will work for at least one shot before getting jammed. So, if I can get one of my guns inside of a few feet, I should be able to kill him. The trouble is that close range is something I would like to avoid with this one.

The voklit immediately begins shooting me before closing the distance. I do not know how the machine gun is made, but it manages four shots before getting jammed. I would probably be dead, but the trouble for both of us, and the reason I have not fired yet, is the water dynamics itself.
>>
No. 508714 ID: c4e5c2
File 136770254210.png - (94.08KB , 700x700 , 343.png )
508714

His bullets either break and, either way, get held up by the water so much that they merely float to me harmlessly. He takes to swimming again, and will close the distance. Which is good for getting in shooting distance, but being in shooting distance also means I will be well within grabbing distance.
>>
No. 508716 ID: 8fbeb2

Get your pistol ready and have your knife in hand incase worse comes to worse and you are forced into hand to hand combat with this guy. Try and shot him in the head if you think you could pull it off, if not then go for his chest
>>
No. 508720 ID: d6ef5d

Well, evasion would be our first best option. Problem is he's probably a faster swimmer than you. Even more-so if he realizes he can discard his gun (all it's good for now is as a club).

The knife should work, but he's big enough that he should be able to overpower us with brute strength even as you're cutting him (unless you hit somewhere vital, but I hardly expect him to just let you swim up to his jugular).

...actually, the most effective stagey might be to cut him, and then separate again. All we need is blood in the water and to wait for death fishes. You're armored- and can cover your exposed foot with your tail, and put a hand over the damaged visor. He'd be eaten alive.

If you have to / get the opportunity to fire a gun, I'd prefer to waste one of the machine guns to the pistol. It would hurt less if we broke one of them.

What about using the grapple offensively? It can fire underwater, right? We could take out an eye or something. Although then we risk losing it as a tool if it's damaged or he grabs it.

Other than that... I dunno, will the gauze swell up hugely underwater?
>>
No. 508781 ID: 9e1727

Alright, you can use the river flow and your relatively tiny mass and cross-section compared to the voklit's to your advantage here.

Point your tail as close to straight down as you can to increase your cross-section and catch more of the flow of the river. This'll give you vital extra seconds before the voklit catches up.

Shift the hunter's gun to your front, make sure you can still easily reach your pistol, and pull out your sniper rifle. Then tip forward and flatten out so your cross-section to the flow is greatly lowered, ready your sniper rifle with a regular round, and start kicking to swim towards the voklit's head.

This'll look to the voklit like you're trying to close distance as quick as possible for a headshot. This'll make it likely that he'll try to reach out with one arm as far as he can to try and grab you while you're still out of range, and he might use his other hand to shield his head. However, what you're looking to do here is shoot down the length of his fully extended arm with an AP round right before he grabs you, shattering the bones and crippling it.

Once you get that shot in, tilt back so the flow pushes you upwards, and in whichever direction is over the voklit's good arm so he can't reach across and grab you. He'll try to tip back and swim up to grab you, his huge cross-section will push him down, slowing him and pushing him downstream from you.

If you don't think you'll be able to slip past the voklit without him nabbing you this way, then tilt so you'll go near enough to his head, pull out the hunter's gun and burst fire it into his skull.
>>
No. 508787 ID: d6ef5d

Oh. A thought. If you want to try staying away from him and waiting for the murder fishes to arrive? Without getting within close range of him?

He doesn't have to be the one bleeding to attract them. You could cut yourself.
>>
No. 508803 ID: 9e1727

>>508720
>>508787
Okay, did I miss something? 'Cause I can't find any indication those flesh-eating fish Viln mentioned are anywhere around here. And even if there were, bringing their attention anyplace near Polo is a Bad Idea. She doesn't have enough hands to cover the breaks in her armor, and wouldn't be able to cover her foot with her hand anyway. The fish would start eating her foot, then on up her leg and keep going up into her armor, and that'd be the end.
>>
No. 508806 ID: d6ef5d

>>508803
He mentioned them back when we first met
Niam, here: >>502477

And I agree it's a desperation tactic, but Polo could do a lot better job covering herself than an unarmored voklit.
>>
No. 508812 ID: 9e1727

>>508806
Viln also said the flesh-eating fish are very rare, and that the rest of the fish down here are tiny and harmless. So since there isn't any sign of flesh-eating fish around, the whole suggestion to try and get them to swarm on the voklit is moot.

And even if they were around, it'd have to be an absolute last ditch option to lead them to the voklit and hope they eat their fill of him before they move on to Polo. 'Cause with no way to get out of the water, if it goes wrong it's going to go completely, fatally, wrong.
>>
No. 509284 ID: c3663c
File 136805235019.png - (64.16KB , 700x700 , 344.png )
509284

I start swimming away from him, trying to buy some time for a small tunnel or any other opportunity. He swims at me, far faster, so at the last moment I swim at him with whatever swimming force I can muster. He takes the bait and goes to fully outstretch his arm with intent of grabbing me before I can reach his head. It would work, but my sniper gets against his palm instead, and although he attempts to grab it, it doesn't matter. I shoot an AP round through it, breaking at least his lower arm, and he yanks his hand back.
>>
No. 509286 ID: c3663c
File 136805241483.png - (31.49KB , 700x700 , 345.png )
509286

But his other hand whips forward as his other goes backward, faster than I can swim out of the way or even just pull another gun out. He ends up managing to flip me around while grabbing me. I'm too far away to get a killing shot with his arm outstretched, along with me being face forward.

Options. My right arm has my sniper rifle, but his grip prevents much aiming. My left arm, provided his grip does not break it, has just enough wiggle room to grab either my grappling hook or my pistol, but I doubt the pistol will be able to break through his hand enough to get him to release me. I'd probably just hurt his finger.

My sniper is most likely waterlogged, but depending on how it was made, flipping to another shot - normal or HE - may bypass it. I most likely can manage to flip my sniper rifle around to at least point in his general direction. I am too far for a killing shot still, and even a shot to his arm will be at an insufficient angle that I cannot hold much hope that it will get him to release his grip, compared to an AP round down the length of his arm. However, I can shoot an HE round in his direction, but I do not know how effective or how awful that action will turn out.

Or I can think of another option, or just wait and hope he bonks his head on the tunnel walls.
>>
No. 509288 ID: 57a559

If you can go for your grappling hook, I'd honestly just try and use the sharp ends to cut off his finger. Or use it to get him to bonk his head on the tunnels instead of just hoping it happens. Or try and use it to garrote him or pierce his throat. I'd highly suggest using your hook as a melee weapon though, cutting/piercing his fingers might loosen his grip enough to improve your aim or allow you to reach your knife.

That can't get waterlogged right? The hook?
If using your grappling hook for good damage is inadvisable, then shit use your sniper rifle with the ammo switch and pray it works.
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No. 509291 ID: d6ef5d

An HE round at this round seems crazy. Especially if your weapon jams and it goes off in the barrel- you'll wreck the weapon permanently, never mind what damage you do to yourself.

Using the knife or grapple seems the best option. Could we hit a tendon in the wrist, or a major artery in the neck or wrist? Or shoot the grapple in his eye?
>>
No. 509292 ID: bf54a8

dick shot.
>>
No. 509293 ID: f2c20c

>>509292
I like this idea. Use the easiest option to do some damage to his privates. The shock will probably make him let go.
>>
No. 509298 ID: f40f76

Can you get a shot with the grapple out into the water? If you can find the right spot, at the right angle, you could hook it so that you're both swung around and slam into the wall, or the floor or ceiling. Given his larger size, weight, and lack of armor, and him trying to get himself around you, it will do him the greater injury. The jolt might make him lose grip completely, but it all depends on how fast you're going now. It's also likely that he wouldn't expect it; guns are easy to grasp, but thinking around applications of technology is something voklit likely can't do well yet.

You'd have to worry about having a good grip, though. Maybe there's a way to tangle the line with him somehow.

>>509293
>>509292

If voklit work like humans do, there's a short delay of a few seconds before the major disabling pain of a crotch shot kicks in, a delay in which he'll know what's coming and want some preemptive vengeance. There's a bit of pain with the initial shot, sure, but not moreso than any other strike, one that adrenaline can ignore. It's best to combine it with another blow or two.
>>
No. 509316 ID: 9e1727

Unless you see a voklit sized exit from the water rapidly approaching, wait and take your time to do whatever you're going to do. Something might happen in your favor along the way, and even if it doesn't that way it's less likely you'll mess up, and also less likely the voklit will notice your actions.

Wait a bit for the voklit's attention to turn away from you before starting to shift anything around. Maybe he'll move his arm and put you in a better position to do whatever you're going to do.

Flip the sniper rifle to a regular round even if you're not going to use it to order to clear the jam. Don't switch to HE again until after you can check your rifle over to make sure it won't jam with that round stuck in it.

If you can pop your helmet's mouth open without using your hands, and you need a distraction, then you could open it and bite the voklit's finger as hard as you can. Of course he'll retaliate, so make it count.

Hey, do you still have that strip from Moi's cloaking bio-suit? If you do, is it in a pouch or pocket you can reach? 'Cause if you can get it out and touch it to the voklit's palm, the pain from an 80% bio-armor equivalent bonding might just be great enough to cause him to let go, or at least loosen his grip.

If you need to use your right hand to reach the bio-suit strip, or anything else for that matter, you could move your legs around to wrap it between your thighs, freeing your hand up.

If you don't still have the bio-suit scrap, or you couldn't possibly reach it, then wait to see if a rough patch is coming along the tunnel floor. Then anchor your grappling hook line to yourself and either fire or drop the hook down and hope it catches. It'll either pull you out of his grasp, or swing you both down to collide with the floor, which might break his grasp.

Just know that if you don't succeed in getting away with whatever plan you take, the voklit is going to remove your gear and guns so you can't try anything more. He'll stick you in his mouth and bite down to free his good hand up to rip everything off of you from the torso down.
>>
No. 509319 ID: d6ef5d

>wait and take your time
No, we can't afford that. Waiting gives time for other enemy reinforcements to maybe arrive, or him to try and crush us in our metal shell, or start bashing us against the wall, or hell, to try and bite or rip our head off!
>>
No. 509327 ID: 9e1727

>>509319
Uh... Yeah, you're right; We can't afford to wait. Maybe not even for a little bit, 'cause this voklit isn't going to let Polo off easy for messing his other arm up, and almost certainly knows neumono can come back from a lot of painful punishment. At the least he can keep squeezing until both her arms break, and maybe keep going until her ribs do to, or even go as far as biting her head off.
>>
No. 509353 ID: 9ddf68

see if you can't use your grappling hook to try and hook something around you and see if the jerk it gives you is enough to pull you out of the vollit's grasp, as for the HE round... use that ONLY as a last resort as I'm sure it will mess you up as well and as I'm sure your aware of there doesn't seem to be much more of you to brake.
>>
No. 509865 ID: 2f4b71

Release the grappling hook and play out the line. I assume the other end is secured to your suit? Even if the shock of it catching isn't enough to pull you out of his grasp, it should be enough to free and arm and get a better show off.
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No. 510655 ID: c3663c
File 136856543702.png - (95.69KB , 900x700 , 346.png )
510655

He is careful and does not bring me any closer to his head. I try and wiggle my arm some more, but even if I reach my knife, I can do little but paper cuts. I still do not see any rough spot of stone to snag my grappling hook onto. I doubt it is particularly hydrodynamic anyway.

I then remember another item just within reach. Moi's scrap of high powered bio-armor scrap. There is research on how to get the bioarmor to properly recognize a species skin so that a mismatch would not happen. It does not sound difficult, but oddly, it has been a challenge for bio armor crafters. With any luck, this science hive either could not or did not make any breakthroughs on that.

And I am right. The bio armor snaps onto his skin and begins attempting to bond. His skin cells practically shed right off his shaking hand. The bio armor doesn't give up, it seeps in past the dead skin cells, thinking that they are just fur to get by to make a proper bond.
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No. 510656 ID: c3663c
File 136856547849.png - (30.52KB , 900x700 , 347.png )
510656

He is losing his grip, although it is a far cry from being able to budge effectively against his hand. The good news, maybe, is that it forces him to make a move. His hand starts pulling me up to his mouth. I switch to normal rounds and start flipping my sniper backwards to him. A headshot will be ideal, but hitting his brain will be the most difficult in my position, and he is trying his best to get his thumb to work against my sniper without losing his grip. I should be able to hit his chest reliably, and likely hit his heart. Fatal, but not immediately. My pistol also remains accessable, but without a sniper's length barrel or power, its effective range is far shorter.
>>
No. 510659 ID: 9ddf68

if you can't guarantee a head shoot then shot him in the throat
>>
No. 510660 ID: d6ef5d

Hmm. Pity the bioarmor didn't just induce a heart attack. Guess that was a little much to hope for, considering it was just a scrap, and he's way bigger than it was designed for anyways.

>this science hive either could not or did not make any breakthroughs on that.
Or, considering what we know of the salikai ordering them about, were not overly concerned with focusing efforts on research and development of safety features.

>bringing you up to his mouth.
He's already got one arm disabled, and you're working on the other. I think he's about to resort to plan bite-your-head-off.

>what do?
I'd say we want to shoot sooner rather than later. Explosive ammo is still too risky, especially with your partially unarmored head so close to the target (or worse, if the gun jams and it goes off in the barrel, the explosion will be right up against you, and partially contained by his fist. You'll be broken and bleeding, at best).

Can you direct the damage done by the bioarmor piece? Move it, so it's eating where you want? Ideally, we want the joint on his thumb weakened enough that you can push right out of his hands.

If the brain shot is too difficult, I say go for the heart, while trying to force your way out of his hand, playing off the bioarmor injury. (Actually, once he knows he's dead, will he keep fighting, I wonder, or would his honor compel him to acknowledge your victory? Or does his honor still apply after buying into whatever the salikai were selling...).
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No. 510694 ID: c3663c
File 136856974851.png - (37.79KB , 700x700 , 348.png )
510694

I opt to shoot as soon as I can, getting him in the heart. With his bringing me up as fast as possible, I, more out of desperation, also shoot my pistol at his throat. I cannot see the damage for the pistol, but I know that the chest shot, at least, will have him killed.

I have to wonder if Voklit honor will have him acknowledge his defeat, and let me go.
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No. 510695 ID: c3663c
File 136856976802.png - (32.29KB , 700x700 , 349.png )
510695

The answer is no. No, the voklit honor only applies when inconvenient.

Inconvenient is also a grave understatement to the trash compactor experience I am in, mixed with his sharper teeth. Damage report is currently at Immense Pain, but he will not be able to bite my head off. His bite is loosening, in a relative sense.
>>
No. 510700 ID: 9ddf68

... can you shot him some more, maybe even try to knife him a little?
>>
No. 510703 ID: d6ef5d

Dangit. We have to reduce the damage he's doing, and try and get him off. Poke him in the eye! Use your knife to slash the tendons holding his jaw together! Get your feet in there and push up, prying his mouth open. Slam your armored tail into his neck- try to get him to cough up air or choke or gag, expelling you.

Close your exposed eye to try and prevent it from getting cut or otherwise damaged.
>>
No. 510715 ID: 57ce27

Er, hm. Well, they have gills, but they still need to take water in. With you in his mouth he has to breathe through his nose. If he's losing consciousness, then maybe if you cover his nostrils, he'll open his mouth on reflex? Or maybe try jab the roof of his mouth with your nose, provoke a gag reflex?
>>
No. 510743 ID: 735f4f

From the look in his eyes the bioarmor might be overloading his nervous system about now. Still we need to try everything we can to get out.
>>
No. 510745 ID: 78c6ea

Did he just... put your whole head in his mouth?
>>
No. 510765 ID: f2c20c

>>510695
Well pry his jaw open with your arms.
>>
No. 510780 ID: c3663c
File 136857896569.png - (167.17KB , 900x700 , 350.png )
510780

My guns no longer shoot, but I get my knife out and start stabbing where I can. I manage to hook my foot on his jaw and push up, which does help.

I did close my exposed eye. It did little against canines the size of my finger. I manage to get out before he manages to grind his teeth on me. I dropped my sniper rifle, but the current kept it nearby, so I retrieve it, as well as peeling Moi's strip back off.

A proper damage report... I cannot see out of my right eye. I am certain it is disabled. My helmet is nearly all broken, and much of my upper armor is cracked and nearly falling off. Although my right shoulder is somehow not broken, the plates there are so dented inward that I cannot move my arm well, so I must take that section off. I believe I have a broken rib, as well, but it is hard to say.

One of the smgs in the back, and the bazooka round, are bent out of shape.
>>
No. 510787 ID: d6ef5d

First priority: separation distance from the voklit. Move away just enough that he can't hurt you if there's any fight left in him.

Second priority: Discard anything impeding your motion (provided this isn't too difficult under water). Pry off that damaged shoulder plate. Pull the clip from the broken smg and discard the weapon (keep the ammo). Discard the bazooka round if there's danger it is now unstable. (If it's still stable, keep it. Niam was gonna cut it open for materials anyways).

Keep your helmet. Some head protection is better than none, even if the visor isn't providing augmented vision anymore. And if we ever make it back to the others, they can pull the memory (and AI and maps)and maybe stick it in one of the more intact ones we stole from the hunters.

Bandaging your eye will have to wait till we're out of the water and hiding somewhere. As will tending to your guns that you likely jammed.

Start looking for an exit. Can you estimate how long you've been under water or how far you've travelled?
>>
No. 510793 ID: b373ed

Well just get away from this guy and see if you can find land for you to surface at
>>
No. 510799 ID: d6ef5d

Oh, and assuming we get back to land again, and get your guns working again, how big a problem is the loss of binocular vision going to be for your aim?
>>
No. 510801 ID: f2c20c

Things are going very badly for us.

Ditch the bent SMG. Continue downriver, looking for another exit.
>>
No. 510921 ID: 9e1727

Goddammit. Things just keep getting worse. Well, there is one thing you are low on that you might be able to get out of this situation: Food. You're going to need it, since you have no idea how far away or where this river will deposit you. It's just going to be rather ghastly to get it here.

Secure your sniper rifle and pack away Moi's bio-armor strip. Get out your grappling hook, clip it to your belt, play out the hook and cable and jam the hook into the voklit corpse to anchor you to it. Remove and discard any broken armor that restricts your arm and torso movement, then pull your knife out and start carving chunks from the meatier parts of the voklit's corpse as quick as you can.

Eat one chunk to test if it's obviously poisonous tasting or anything like that; Even if it tastes horrid as long as it's edible enough you can choke it down you're going to get as much as you can. Scarf down as much as you can right here, since it won't go bad in your stomach. Then slice rags from the voklit's rough clothing and use them to wrap more chunks to put in your pouches without getting blood everywhere. Get as much as you can fit for rations.

Once the food is secure, cut some of the longer lengths of hair from the voklit's mane and stuff it into your belt. It'll be useful if you need to tie or bind anything together later on. It might be usable right now to tie up any loose armor plates that are flopping around. It could also be used to tie your sniper rifle to your arm so it doesn't get knocked loose while you're in the water; You can't afford to lose its night scope right now.

Keep your broken helmet on, since even a little bit of protection is better than none, and you'll need to eventually pull the data from it; Taking it off will just make it one more thing you'll have to carry.

Pull the magazine from the bent SMG. Discard the SMG and keep the magazine, just in case you come across another SMG in the future. As long as you have it out, check if the hunter's gun uses the same caliber as the SMG. Keep the bent bazooka round, since it was going to be used for parts anyway.

Once you're done sorting your equipment, don't cut loose from the voklit's corpse yet. You can use it to hide your presence from enemy forces watching the river. Get on the side away from the surface and jam your grappling hook in to hold on. Try to tip the corpse forward so more of it obscures you, and so the arms and legs dangle down to keep it pointed more or less flat to the current.
>>
No. 511141 ID: c3663c
File 136868117444.png - (96.80KB , 700x700 , 351.png )
511141

I begin dealing with broken gear. My shoulderplate is taken off, and I remove the smg ammo and discard the broken smg. I will keep the bazooka round, as its contents are still intact.

If I had any chance of keeping track of where I was going, I lost it after that. I can only see augmented vision out of my left peripherals, and while I can still maneuver carefully with that alone, I will not be able to aim guns well, at least not without my sniper's scope.

And lastly, I do not know how long I will be stuck in these caves, so while I have a chance, I spend the rest of the time eating parts of the voklit. Raw meat is not to my taste, and it is the least of my complaints about this situation.

I use my peripheral goggles to get out of the water when an exit finally comes, after turning my lantern off. No one is around, so I clean out my guns swiftly, count my ammo and bandage my eye before moving out before the salikai can get a lock on this exit.

And once again, I have no idea where I am, and I doubt my goggles will be much good even if I get the water out of its circuits. What I do know is that I am in a vacuous cavern with glowslugs all around me.
>>
No. 511142 ID: 76b151

>>511141
Right, gotta scout out this cavern, see if we can't find some exits.
>>
No. 511143 ID: f2c20c

Ask Bell if she can still help you navigate and spot cameras/things behind you via verbal warnings, since you lost your HUD. What we want to do now is re-enter familiar territory.

Oh, is the rearview camera still there? If not, I fear the voklit ate it.

I would suggest stealing glowslugs for food and for camo, but you can't run fast enough to get away from their guardians. So, let's just get our bearings and move out. We might be able to get back to Biles to rest and heal instead of trying to hobble through the route to get back to home base, because right now I expect the salikai to have blockaded the general area they first spotted you in.
>>
No. 511144 ID: 9ddf68

the only other spot that we have been that had lots of glow worms in it was by the river exit we almost drowned in that one time when someone cut that cable that was meant to make sure we didn't get sweep away. Don't think we are there though, so I guess all we can do is scout and hope to find a familiar landmark and go form there.
>>
No. 511146 ID: d6ef5d

All right.

Now that you've treated your eye, do you know how bad the injury is? Can you estimate how long it will take to recover? Will your suspected broken rib impede your moving?

Do you need to borrow a glow slug to apply camo to your exposed areas? (Fur's probably a higher priority to cover than the bioarmor- your pale blue shows up a lot better against the dark cave walls than the dark blue bioarmor). ...although bothering the glowslugs might attract invisible guardians you can't see, and we don't want to waste ammo or make loud noises. I don't suppose you can sneak one into a pouch to use later without setting off the help me signal?

>Don't know where I am
Can you estimate how large this cavern is? I'm thinking I don't see you don't remember any caverns this size near the rivers on your map.

If I had to guess, you're somewhere east of the salikai base, but we don't know how far, or how far north or south you might have gone. If you still have a functional compass with your helmet offline, or haven't gotten completely turned around, I think we want to head north. You're probably south of Bile's position, and certain;y south of your other allies.

>ate the voklit that tried to eat you.
Welp. Honestly, what bothers me most about that is the growing number of people you know who would approve of that.
>>
No. 511148 ID: d6ef5d

>>511143
Nope, leave Bell offline. If we don't let the helmet dry out properly, his circuits will fry when we turn him on.

...assuming the helmet's computer still works at all, after being crunched.

>>511144
No, we're not there. The cave Polo first got washed up into was to the south of valley- we've hiked way west under the mountains since we started running from the hunters. The distance from our last know position to that cave is on the order of the width of the valley, or more.
>>
No. 511156 ID: 9e1727

How waterlogged are you? Are you going to leave a damp trail where you walk for awhile? If so, you're going to have to drop your loose gear and "oscillate" to get the water off. You don't have to strip down, thankfully, since it's only on your armor and bio-armor. You just don't want to leave any indication you went away from the river, leaving the enemy unsure if you walked away or jumped back in.

Best to get away from the river ASAP. It's very likely that more voklits will be coming downriver, since it's likely that riding the river is the quickest way to get wherever you are. You only have however long it would have taken them to run to an upstream river entrance.

You know the river was flowing east/south-east, so unless it did something where it curved back around and under itself, you know if you head away from the left bank relative to the flow you'll be on the side facing away from the salikai's base. So get on that side of the river, walk upstream until you reach the cavern wall, and then follow along it from afar. Keep back from it just in case any tunnel entrances along it have cameras pointed out.

Stick to the big cavern, since it's more likely to connect up with the one Biles' is in, if it does connect at all. Avoid the tunnels, not just 'cause of the possible cameras, but also because there won't be anyplace to hide in them if you do encounter the enemy.

Once you're away from the river, take your helmet off so it'll dry out faster and any drips from it won't be associated with you. Even if you can't see through that last bit of visor left no matter how much you turn your eye, Bell can still hear better than you can and can alert you to noises and footsteps. And if you can barely see through that fragment of visor, that means you still have thermal, night vision, and can check the maps you got from Biles for large caverns to guess where you went.
>>
No. 511195 ID: cd0e60

Glowslugs means food! That means you can stay here (or nearby) and wait to recover back to full physical fitness. You're really working under too many injuries right now, and if you're lost, you're not going anywhere on time to begin with. Tunnels could go anywhere, unless you have any qualification in geology. You need to hide away and get back up to strength. Leave some false trails first, if you can.
>>
No. 511203 ID: d6ef5d

>>511195
Not sure that's such a great idea. We're already hours overdue, and it'll take over a day to heal up. Besides, the enemy knows we rode that river. There will be pursuers following it, and they will deploy searchers at the exits from that waterway. This location is not secure.
>>
No. 511347 ID: c3663c
File 136882741375.png - (64.93KB , 700x700 , 352.png )
511347

I don't bother with glowslugs, as the risk of getting caught by their protectors are too great.

>Can you estimate how large this cavern is?
No. Unless I shine the lanter like an enormous 'kill me' beacon, it is larger than the light goes, and it is large enough for even the glowslugs to dissipate into the distance. Massive, is all I can say.

I start walking... somewhere. Away from the river, as the salikai must be sending forces this way. I hear a squak in the distance, from that multiheaded bird that followed me some time ago. Then a gunshot. It is not far, so I hurry away.

I apply bandages to my eye while I take my helmet off and dry it out. Once a generous period of time passes, I put my helmet back on and turn bell back on. The rearview camera is still intact, somehow. The voklit must have not bit over it.

"Bell?" I make sure to whisper.
>"Yes?"
"Damage report, please."
>"Circuits are online. Helmet is disconnected from other body parts, no physical armor statistics can be made from the neck down. Extrasensory additions are offline, ear plate external receptors and visor calibration are currently out of order. Rear camera is online, but due to the visor's state, I will have to audibly confirm all remaining alerts that the rear camera sees."
"Do that. I don't suppose you know where I am?"
>"Factoring in artifical LED lighting... the rock reflection lighting is partially consistent with areas in proximity to the place you have called your base. However, without a full map of these caves, I can only say there is a good chance that you are either close to your base, or you are far away."
"Apparently you have been eavesdropping on me. In that case, you would know about Biles' place. What are the chances I am around there?"
>"A small chance to be within a few kilometers."
"Alert me if you recognize any place I have been to before. I assume you have a lot recorded."
>"This will be available through the back camera alone. It is recorded up to one day by default. If you have no objections, I will stop deleting footage past the 24 hour period."
"No objections. Keep everything, but remember to delete everything should I give the kill phrase."

I am far enough from the river and have eluded them again, and it is unlikely that they will be able to find me by this point. So while I am not in immediate danger, I have little idea of what to do other than either continue walking without sufficient directions, or stay in one place and attempt to heal without aggravating my wounds. My rib will not slow movement much, compared to my right foot.
>>
No. 511349 ID: d6ef5d

All right. We've evaded immediate pursuit.

One big problem now is we've lost augmented vision. That means Bell cannot automatically spot cameras for you anymore.

>what do
Let's split the difference. Start off walking, and see if we can find a connection to anything we recognize (a cavern this big must connect to the tunnels you have mapped somewhere). If it doesn't look like that's going to happen within a reasonable amount of time, bunk down and rest and heal and tend to cleaning out your weapons after being used underwater.

Reasoning behind this: if we're close enough to regroup with allies, you want to. If you're not, we can't risk being discovered by another patrol or camera injured and with your weapons jammed up.

I'd guess this large cave is either past where we met Biles, or near to where we met Niam. When we were over there, Viln mentioned the river emptying into a larger cavern, didn't he?

>speculation
Problem is, you're hours overdue by now. It's pretty much gotten to the point where your allies would have stopped waiting. They might be trying to put another plan into motion, or have moved camp, by now. Rokann and Katzati are likely recovered enough to be functional by now. At the very least, you'd think they'd have had to risk heading out for hunting. There wasn't much food left.
>>
No. 511351 ID: d6ef5d

Oh hey, the external mapper is offline, but are your helmet's internal compass and altimeter still functional? You don't have a HUD anymore, but Bell would still be capable of checking them.

Knowing which way you're headed might help, and Bell might be able to cross reference altitude with the last map image in local memory.
>>
No. 511352 ID: 9ddf68

I say move a little further away from the river and then (unless you find something that will let you find your way back to base) find a good hiding spot to heal up for a bit. Then when you can move a bit better and our guns work again move some more and just try to find something that can lead you back to base. Also keep your LED lamp off when you don't need it as well it does let you see what is around you in also lets others know where you are as well, just use your sniper scope for now assuming you haven't lost it in the river.
>>
No. 511359 ID: 57a559

>>511347
Ask Bell if it can feed you instructions to further repair other functions of the suit in the field. Anything that it would suggest be logical. Hell, any advice on anything right now would be helpful if it can compute it.
>>
No. 511362 ID: f2c20c

>>511347
Camo's wearing off. That could be a big issue... oh, that's right. Last time we messed with the slugs, we were able to pick one up briefly and mess with it a bit before the guardians attacked. So we could do a little bit of camo reconstruction safely, probably.

I think it's time to scout around. We can likely do that while occasionally bothering slugs to re-camo ourselves.
>>
No. 511420 ID: 9e1727

You're going to have to stop and let your foot heal up enough to at least be able to walk on it, 'cause as it is now, with you hobbling along on a rifle crutch, you're stuck to moving along the smoother, open terrain where you'd be easily spotted. You're going to need that foot in working order to climb and move across rougher terrain in order to evade the enemy forces, and preferably good enough to run on.

Keep walking along and looking around until you find a good hiding spot, then hole up. Make sure it can't be easily spotted by any flying recon drones. If it's high enough up that it can be only reached by grappling hook, that'd be even better.

Once you're in, take your guns apart and clean the water completely out of them. Also, if your rear-view camera has infrared capability, position yourself so Bell can watch out from your hiding spot. That way if any of those imperfect cloakers comes along, you'll know.

Ask Bell if your helmet has a built-in electronic compass, altimeter, or any other basic navigation and orientation functions, 'cause right now even being able to tell which way is north would be great. Oh, and ask if the helmet's clock is still accurate, or if it was turned off along with the rest of the electronics. It'd be good to know how long you were in the water to estimate how far you went.

Your glowslug camo is wearing off. If it rubs off any more you're going to stand out like a sore thumb. So if you run across any glowslugs along the way, you're going to have to risk climbing up and grabbing one. Perhaps stuffing it in a pouch once you nab it and then either using the grappling hook to swing back down or diving into a body of water will keep the guardians off you long enough to get away.

Also, since your fur color stands out against the cave, immediately cut your ears back as far as you can without it effecting your hearing. While using a glowslug to coat your fur would work, you might not run across any, and cutting your ears off is something you can do to reduce how much you show up right away.
>>
No. 511423 ID: c3663c
File 136884956997.png - (81.93KB , 700x700 , 353.png )
511423

"Bell, do I have a functional altometer or compass?"
>"Yes."

Good. Bell occasionally tells me my altitude and direction, and I begin going north and up based off of that, given it is the most likely direction I want to be going.

"Do you have any other advice to repairing my armor?"
>"This armor requires special tools to repair the armor extensively."

I walk for an hour using only the remnants of my visor's visibility, but given my pace, that does not get me particularly far. I also slice my ears somewhat to minimize my light, easy to see blue fur. Eventually I find a good spot up along a wall, an alcove built into the cliff. I move into it.

It will take several more hours before I could hope to walk on my foot lightly, and perhaps even more. Another option will be to wait only a couple hours to wait for my arms to heal somewhat, enough to use them and my good leg to walk. It is inefficient energy wise, but I will be able to move at a decent pace nonetheless. Or, of course, simply clean out my guns here and then get a move on as soon as possible.
>>
No. 511433 ID: d6ef5d

Alright. We've officially missed the window for rushing back to base.

I think we should at least wait up till your arms have recovered. Not sure we can afford waiting for your leg, but we'll see.

Make sure Bell is paying attention on Camera and the audio pickup for anything approaching- don't want to be surprised.
>>
No. 511434 ID: 735f4f

Might be a good time to get some rest in while you can. If you push to hard you wont have any strength left when you need it. If you can find a place to hide in maybe pile a few rocks around so you wont be spotted right away.
>>
No. 511439 ID: f2c20c

I think that resting up here could be good for us. Go for the 3-legged gait thing. Being able to move at a quick pace means we can steal slugs again, and run away if needed.
>>
No. 511455 ID: c3663c
File 136885426579.png - (30.58KB , 700x700 , 354.png )
511455

I move out after a couple of hours, when I feel that my arms are up to the pressure.

Which is good, because it is a lengthy, often uphill climb, to which I occasionally must hide from a passing voklit, hunter, and even an occasional arkot this far out. Another hour or so passes by, but I made far more room, and the tunnels even out again.

>"Caution - rear camera has detected light diffraction. Two stalkers are probable, and keeping a similar pace to your own." Both are approximately 15 meters behind, and using 0 degrees as a reference directly behind you, one is 28 degrees clockwise and one 15 degrees counterclockwise.
>>
No. 511458 ID: 9ddf68

think you can take them out silently? if so go around a bend or something and wait for them to come around, then end them quickly and then loot and leave, if not keep going forward until you can get to a place with lots of place for you to hide in or easy ditch pursuers. then see if you can ditch them or if not quickly take them out and then find somewhere to hide or run to.
>>
No. 511464 ID: d6ef5d

...thanks Bell. I've been paranoia checking every update for extra lines that could indicate a cloaked unit, but 15 meters is kind of out of panel.

Assuming similar equipment loads as before, each should be carrying a knife and a grenade. They'll try and get close enough to stab or explode you.

There's also the chance that one or more of them is carrying a Rokoa-dart. With holes in your armor, you're vulnerable to that now.

I presume they've also got mini-jammers, like Moi's. Otherwise you would have sensed them before Bell saw them.

There's a good chance that if Bell has clear line of sight on them, and they're following at a consistent distance, that you've been seen. Which means while we would prefer to evade them, we want to take them out. Swifty if possible, so we can claim their gear.

While quiet would be nice, against the weapons we expect, range is an advantage. Best choice is probably the machine gun. It's imprecise, but you can but many bullets quickly into the places you expect foes you can't see to be. And the cloak-suits don't offer much in the way of armor.
>>
No. 511465 ID: f2c20c

>>511455
Use the next corner to ambush them. You have experience in spotting them by now without assistance, so we can get some shots off on them despite lacking a visor. The alternative is to let them ambush you when you're not ready and die.
>>
No. 511481 ID: 9e1727

Dammit. No way to tell if these two cloakers are going to move in to attempt to disable and capture you, kill you, or if they're tailing you in the hope you'll lead them to where your allies are hidden. Also no way to tell if they were merely laying in wait along your path and only they spotted you, or if another enemy unit spotted you, saw the state your helmet is in, and sent them in.

You're going to have to figure out if they're here to merely follow you, or if they're going to move in to strike. Keep going along like you don't know they're there, but tell Bell to warn you if the "light diffractions" start moving up to flank you, or start moving towards you. That'll tell you what their intentions are.

If it looks like they're moving in to attack, you're going to have to act right away. Unfortunately they're bugged, so you'll have to go for crippling or kill shots.

Move to get around a corner, but not so fast you alert them that you know they're there. Once you're a fair bit around the corner, ready the hunter's gun and turn around to watch the corner with what's left of your visor. As soon as you see one of them clear the corner on thermal, burst fire at its knees until it falls down, then some more into it so it can't throw a grenade after you, then get away in case the other cloaker decides to throw its grenade at you.

However, if they don't appear to be moving in to attack, keep going while looking for a place that you could lose them, such as a tunnel too small for them to fit, or someplace there you could take them out, such as a narrow ramp up the cavern wall where you could knock one over the edge, then shoot down the ramp to hit the other one.
>>
No. 511504 ID: 78c6ea
File 136886810344.gif - (486.56KB , 500x250 , unknown.gif )
511504

>>511464

>> a Rokoa dart
>> holes in your armor
>> Polokoa is canon
>>
No. 511506 ID: d88482

i think they're following you to the base.take them out quickly, a fight is inevitable.
or they might be more escaped science hive guys. it's their fault for sneaking behind a commando, shoot them anyway.
>>
No. 511510 ID: 9e1727

>>511506
Probably don't want shoot them if at all possible, since even in the unlikely case these two are non-enemies the gunfire will draw the enemy here and we're not in a state to run or fight a bunch of them after taking care of these two.

Best to see if they're just following first, since if they are then they can be led into a situation where we can either lose them or take the both of them down silently.
>>
No. 511571 ID: c3663c
File 136890659380.png - (34.70KB , 700x700 , 355.png )
511571

"Tell me if they begin catching up, Bell."

I keep my pace the same, and do not need to go much further to find a sharp enough corner bend to get behind. Unfortunately, the cavern is wide enough that if they are careful, they can get around the bend at a distance, and I am a bit worried about trying to handle the recoil of this gun made for a neumono significantly bigger than myself. Furthermore, I begin noticing a hissing sound. I do not know where it is coming from, but gas is a safe bet. I do not smell anything yet.
>>
No. 511574 ID: 735f4f

If you could find the source of the hissing it might be good to know how they are pumping the gas through the caves. Being able to hear the hissing means there is a pipe or tank nearby venting the gas. If they were just pumping it into the caves it would not make a noise like that.

If the two following you have seen you the are probably waiting for a moment when you let down your guard or stop to rest to ambush you.

Your current position is not ideal but unless you can find another one might have to do.
>>
No. 511578 ID: d6ef5d

>problem handing recoil.
Can you brace yourself or the weapon against the terrain in some way to better anchor yourself or absorb the recoil? Or use your tail to brace against the floor or wall (so you're a tripod). The alternative solution is to use another weapon, bur I don't really like that. I don't think your pistol would do enough damage to put down two hunters before they could close (and then it's grenade hug death time), and the sniper rifle relies on precision you don't have with the enemy invisible.

The rate of fire and damage of the machine gun is what you'd want for this situation, if you can find a way to make it work.

>Hissing
Can Bell pinpoint the source of the sound? Or which direction it is come from at least? Either way, time to hold your breath.

Keep your eyes peeled for any distortion of light in the air.
>>
No. 511611 ID: decbb1

It could also be that because of your injuries you started halucinating far faster and you're in the denial phase.
>>
No. 511615 ID: f2c20c

>>511571
Could be cave creatures. Keep an eye out.
>>
No. 511620 ID: f2c20c

>>511571
WAIT.
>"LIGHT DEFRACTIONS not a viable option. Highlighting movement..."

How do we know the stalkers aren't a hallucination? The goggles weren't able to detect them before. How are we able to now?

If we start shooting we're gonna reveal our position. If we're not shooting at an enemy, it is a BAD MOVE.
>>
No. 511622 ID: d6ef5d

>>511620
Well, to be fair, that was using the forward goggles. Bell's reporting the current observations from the rear camera- different equipment.

And the diffractions the low-grade cloaker suits make are actually visible to the unaided eye. Look here- >>500885, you can actually see the outline of the moving cloackers before Polo switches to IR. That's what Bell's seeing.

So it's not as if Bell's observations are impossible and therefore have to be a hallucination. (Granted, anything could be, but we have no good reason to suspect we're hallucinating yet).
>>
No. 511623 ID: 9e1727

Okay, so there's a chance you inhaled some hallucinogenic gas and you're hallucinating these cloakers, so better figure that out before you go spraying the cavern with bullets and giving away your position. So put the gun away before the possible cloakers clear the corner so they don't think you suspect they're there, if they are there.

Bell said it used "light diffraction" to detect the cloakers, which is something it said before it couldn't do. So first ask Bell if it said it detected anything odd on the rear view video in the last few minutes. If it says it says it did, birectly ask it how it is detecting "light diffraction" now when before it said it couldn't do that. Then ask Bell to replay the rear camera video recording for you in what's left of your visor for the last few minutes so you can see for yourself.

Then you'd better figure out where that hissing sound is coming from, if it's for real. Ask Bell if it can hear a hissing sound, and if so to try and locate its general direction if it can. Otherwise you're going to have to just cover one ear and turn to try and narrow down where it is. If you can't figure out where the hissing is coming from after searching around, then it's likely a hallucination.

You might not be smelling the gas either because you're hallucinating not smelling it, or it's a new batch that doesn't have a scent, or it's not at a concentration yet that you can smell it, but you've been inhaling it enough that it's built up to the point its causing symptoms. That last one sounds like it'd fit, since this cavern is massive and it would take a long time to fill with gas.

Make sure to hold your breath as much as you can while still speaking to Bell. Do you know anything about how long the hallucinogenic gas lasts in the bloodstream of a neumono that's holding its breath?

Even if the cloakers aren't a hallucination, as long as they're merely tailing you at a distance you can keep going until you reach a better place to either lose them, cripple them then lose them, or off them.
>>
No. 511701 ID: c3663c
File 136899810391.png - (35.17KB , 700x700 , 356.png )
511701

I doubt I am hallucinating anything at the moment, unless they have had a breakthrough in the last 10 hours and replaced the hallucinogen gas with an odorless version.

Unless I did breathe the hallucinogen gas, smelled it, began hallucinating, and my memory tells me that I never smelled it in the first place.

"Bell, can you hear a hissing noise?"
>"Yes, but rear camera input does not allow me to pinpoint a direction."
"And do you know anything about these hallucinogens?"
>"Negative."
"You said you would pinpoint stalkers by movement, and specifically said you would not be able to detect light diffractions."
>"... I was wrong. I can now."

Damnit. This does not sit well with me. Maybe I am hallucinating, although since I am not in some absurd, non-cave location, I do not believe I am heavily influenced. These stalkers have a high chance of being real.

I hold my breath regardless. While I am tempted to move on, I spent too long thinking. One of the stalkers must have quickened its pace and pops out while I hold my breath. I cannot help but notice that it has its weapon out, but has chosen a knife over a gun.
>>
No. 511702 ID: 78c6ea

Nono they had a breakthrough and now they can make camera mounted A.I.s hallucinate!

...yeah I got nothing.
>>
No. 511703 ID: f2c20c

>>511701
There's another option. Bell isn't Bell, but is the CAI, or some other individual trying to help us without us even knowing they're helping us- like one of the science hivers.

Also, I bet it's looking around the corner with the reflection on the blade. That's YOUR trick. I guess the ambush is ruined now. May as well start shooting.
>>
No. 511705 ID: 57a559

>>511701
Bell, can you lie?
Bell, this statement is not true.
>>
No. 511707 ID: d6ef5d

>I was wrong. I can now.
Previously, I suspected this was due to Bell using different equipment (the rear camera versus the visor) and them having different technical specifications (ie, the visor may have had night vision, IR and X-ray capability, but it lacked diffraction scanning).

However, if this were the case, your AI would have said so. They're logical like that.

...well, unless Bell is too dumb to realize the reason for his change in capability. But seeing as how he's been able to sass you, and the analyses he's performed for you before, I don't think that's likely.

I think the most likely explanation is that you've been hacked. The CAI got into your helmet and is helping you for some reason.

We'll deal with this later. Deal with the enemies in front of you now, we'll confront whatever's in your helmet later. If it is the CAI, I have a line of reasoning to try and turn them prepped and ready. >>/questdis/69728

>has chosen a knife over a gun
If she's outfitted like the first two cloakers we faced, that's because she doesn't have a gun. But she does have a grenade it may try and lob around the corner at you.

Weapon out means they know you're here. You can't let them continue to tail you, or report in. Gotta shoot. You can see that slight distortion to the right of the knife, right? That's the ear. Use that as a reference and pump several rounds into their head. Regretably, her breast barely pokes around the corner, so you aren't a good angle to put anything in her torso.
>>
No. 511717 ID: eaa372

Whisper out as if you mistook the blur as Moi. Extremely unlikely that it actually is Moi but that might give you a few seconds to dive around their cover and unload into them.
>>
No. 511720 ID: bdb3f8

Is this cloaker peaking around corners with a knife like YOU do at like every corner you find?
>>
No. 511738 ID: 9ddf68

I thought we might have an issue with the CIA hacking our suit AI but seeing how the hole thing seemed to be on a close circuit I didn't think it could do it without us or somebody else to hook us up directly to it, like that usb port thing the CIA wanted us to use to hack the war hive's ship. however we have survived this long by living off a paranoia so why stop now, assume your suit's AI is compromised until we can prove otherwise.

Shoot the cloakers and see if you can't just take them down fast since I'm not sure how quickly the sound of gun fire will bring in enemy reinforcements.
>>
No. 511740 ID: d6ef5d

>>511738
>how could they have hacked us without direct access?
Remote control is unlikely, as radio contact is intermittent and unreliable down here. Even for the enemy- their hidden relays don't cover everywhere. That means if we've been compromised, we're looking at something that was uploaded, or that Bell was reprogrammed.

As to how? I can think of a few possibilities.

We have a radio, and Bell is connected to it. The CAI could have gained access that way via their relays. That, or our gear was compromised before we left by bugged sabotuers. Sure, not deploying us with weapons or ammo would have been obvious. But giving us a suit with compromised AI? Much sublter. Or possibly, there was something hidden in the map data we downloaded from the hunter helmets.
>>
No. 511741 ID: f2c20c

It is probable that the CAI got into your helmet because a friendly science hiver found your camera at the duel site, and hacked it while it was sitting there unattended.
>>
No. 511753 ID: 256f3d

You're only going to have one or two shots with this gun before the recoil completely throws your aim off, so aim low to start. One shot below where you estimate its arm to be, then one more if the gun is still pointed at the cloaker after the recoil. This is make the cloaker bleed and compromise its cloaking so you'll be able to target it better.

Only continue firing if the cloaker immediately charges you. Unfortunately you'll have to go to burst fire or full auto if you hope to stop it before it gets to you. Otherwise, if the cloaker pulls back, you're going to have to assume it's going to use a grenade and you'd best get away from your current position right away and behind cover.

You can worry about Bell later, when you're not in a combat situation and not possibly hallucinating. However, if Bell was altered in some way it wasn't to the benefit of the salikai, since it has had plenty of opportunities to screw you over and hasn't. For example: It could have quietly turned your helmet's radio transmitter on and gave your position away without you knowing a thing. So its very likely trustworthy, as far as your safety goes.
>>
No. 512106 ID: c3663c
File 136928439513.png - (51.46KB , 700x700 , 357.png )
512106

I am uncertain how Bell would have been hacked or otherwise compromised, but the chances of it happening are non-zero. I will worry about it later.

I shoot. Enough blood comes off that I must have injured it significantly, but it immediately pulls back. I do not see either one, and a second passes.

At least one of them may very well be using a grenade.
>>
No. 512107 ID: 19b3c3

Actually, that's less blood than I'd like to see for someone taking several machine gun rounds to the head.

Anyways, stop wasting ammo, they pulled back. You need to either duck behind cover, and/or pull back or around, to try and avoid a counterattack or grenade.

They're either going to attack around the corner with a grenade, or try and sneak wide with invisibility or something.

Or try to fall back and report in, which would be very bad. Can't really afford that with our mobility still hindered.
>>
No. 512108 ID: f2c20c

>>512106
Let's move back, out of range of an incoming grenade.
>>
No. 512122 ID: 9ddf68

i say do a fighting retreat as our main goal is to get away, not kill everything that looks at us funny. We are still crippled and I'm certain they have more bodies then we have bullets. If we can kill them great but don't go chasing after them, and try not to get bogged down either. If they are calling for backup it's going to be like when the camera first caught you which started this whole mess only this time you won't be able to run away as quickly.
>>
No. 512145 ID: 256f3d

You'd best assume additional enemy forces are incoming, since if any with a radio were within earshot of your gunshots the call will have gone out to converge on this position. This means you have an unknown, but likely short, period of time to get away from here, so you can't get bogged down fighting these cloakers in one spot; Keep moving while dealing with them.

Since your shots compromised the cloak of the cloaker you just hit, it'll almost certainly use its grenade if it has one, since it can no longer shadow you or possibly sneak up to knife you. Though it's up in the air whether it'll throw the grenade and retreat or if it'll attempt a berserker rush to suicide bomb you with it; With cloaker being bugged it could go either way.

Even though Bell is somewhat suspect right now, its ability to spot the cloakers is your only advantage here, so you're going to have to trust it for now.

Turn around so Bell has as clear a view as possible towards where the cloakers would be moving and tell it to alert you to any activity that way. Then hold one hand against the wall to hold yourself up while you hobble-hop along it on your good foot as fast as you can to get to any cover.

Watch for spots where you could brace yourself against the wall to fire, since if the wounded cloaker does rush you you're going to have to throw out as much lead as you can to take it down before it can get within blast range.

Tangentially releated to the current situation: At some point in the future you should ask Bell if there's a port or socket on the front of your helmet where you could easily plug the rear view camera in, giving it a forward view. That way if the situation called for it Bell could watch ahead of you.
>>
No. 512153 ID: 19b3c3

>>512122
A fighting retreat is difficult when we can't move very quickly. It's also not really what we want as that involves continuous engagement.

And no, our goal isn't to kill everything. But shutting down a patrol that has seen us (hopefully) before it can report in, or preventing it from shadowing us, or attacking from behind with grenades or Rokoa darts? Hell yes that's a priority. We need to shut down both cloaked hunters before we GTFO.

(Presumably, patrols aren't in constant radio or bug contact with command. Or else the ambush tactics we and Biles have used successfully in the past without triggering a full lockdown like when Polo was seen on camera would not have worked. So yes, while there's a good chance reinforcements may be coming, there may be a small window in which we have to prevent that).

>>512145
The main problem with this plan is it involves us turning our back on the enemy, and we have to wait for Bell's warning and Polo's turning around to fire. Which is plenty of time to be attacked from behind.

The cloakers are hard to see, but they are visible to the naked eye if you're paying attention. And with the machine gun, precision isn't as important anyways.
>>
No. 512192 ID: 256f3d

>>512153
Alright, it does make more sense for Polo to remain facing towards where the cloakers probably are. It'll mean she can brace herself against the wall to fire so she'll be able to aim better than just standing.

I do agree Polo will have to neutralize these cloakers before leaving, since she's in no shape to lose them if she flees. She'll have to either kill them or injure their legs enough that they can't follow faster than she can move.

And I think it would actually be preferable if the cloakers left to report Polo's position, since that'd leave her as much time to get away as it would take for them to find an enemy unit with a radio to report to and for the enemy forces to descend on this position.
>>
No. 512209 ID: c3663c
File 136937300966.png - (76.98KB , 700x700 , 358.png )
512209

I move back, using the machine gun as a crutch while pulling out my pistol, which is just about the only weapon I can use right now with one hand. Their jammer is turned off, or rather, it's flipped. I sense Four Stripes along with them. The salikai must already know where I am. Take me down, at any cost, even at your own lives is Four Stripes' message. I would say that I had seriously considered moving forward, in an attempt to neutralize them before they had a chance to toss grenades or chase me down. Unfortunately, grenades were what they were already doing, and given Four Stripes directive, I am uncertain if this scenario was yet another case of choose the least worst option.

I see a grenade and a gun leap out. They both come out in synchronized time, and I unload my pistol as quickly, and accurately, as I can. The blood comes out ahead of the grenade. Both stalkers must be there, and the gun wielder is protecting the grenade lobber from getting hit. She tries to shoot me, but misses all of her shots, due to her being particularly good at being a meat shield. The grenade lobber is effectively free to lob.
>>
No. 512210 ID: c3663c
File 136937302903.png - (112.33KB , 1000x1000 , 359.png )
512210

I try to jump out of the way and into the nearest cover. It was cooked, and I was only marginally successful. It strikes my back, and I start rolling and tumbling along the ground from the force.
>>
No. 512211 ID: c3663c
File 136937303978.png - (104.58KB , 700x700 , 360.png )
512211

My consciousness is intact, but all I can tell is that I was flung far, and my armor is getting wrecked. Or in the upper body's case, completely wrecked. The voklit loosened it up too much to withstand the grenade. I can barely move, and my vision is fuzzy. I want a break. I hear water nearby.
>>
No. 512212 ID: 76b151

Right, only chance. Roll into the river.
>>
No. 512214 ID: 9ddf68

well shit our only real option for if we want to live through this to to get into the water and hope to god it carries us somewhere safe before we drown or something unfriendly finds us.
>>
No. 512216 ID: f2c20c

>>512211
You can't run yet. There's still one stalker up.

Move your body, soldier. Get a gun out, any gun. Eliminate the enemy. Only then can you escape.

Also the strap's about to break. At this point I just want to get back to base alive, but it would be nice if we still had SOME equipment when we get there.
>>
No. 512222 ID: 19b3c3

Fuck. Rest in pieces, Bell. Just became a moot point if you were compromised or not.

...say 'pigiron pomi' anyways, on the off chance there's a large enough piece that Bell is functional and he still has audio. If they weren't destroyed, we don't want the enemy getting those maps.

Anyways, you have several options:

(1) Fight to the last. Wait for the cloakers to come check your body, or enter visual range again, and then shoot them with whatever you've got. Not that it will really matter though. The hunters aren't your real enemy, and are disposable to the salikai. Plus, there will be more enemies coming.

(2) Suicide. Spare yourself a fate worse than death, prevent letting yourself become a source of intel or a mind controlled asset for your enemy. Arm the bazooka round if you still have it, and boom.

(3) Allow yourself to be captured. You're disabled- they may take you alive. Pray that your training will allow you to break free of their control later, and that you will survive, and not be subject to a fate worse than death. Or at least, that your torture distracts the salikai long enough for others to act.

(4) Throw yourself into the river. Either this will turn into suicide or capture, or maybe, just maybe, you'll get away.

(5) Inane option. Play dead, wait for the hunters to get close enough, then grab a rokoa dart off one and infect yourself. Hulk out and do as much damage as possible before you have to kill yourself.

...I'd say realistically, 2 3 and 4 are your only real choices. Try for 4, and if you can't reach the river in time, fall back on 2 or 3.
>>
No. 512225 ID: 735f4f

Disable helmet and roll or crawl to that water. You need to get washed so far downstream they cant find us for a few days.
>>
No. 512231 ID: c3663c
File 136937555993.png - (23.06KB , 700x700 , 361.png )
512231

"Pigiron pomi." I say, just in case Bell was not destroyed, to kill the data.

I dropped the machine gun. It is somewhere else. I reflexively put my pistol back in its holster before the grenade went off, so that is with me. I leave it there and bring out the sniper rifle, pushing myself backwards with my foot to the water, resisting the considerable urge to just fall asleep right here and now. The slope starts going downhill, so it turns out to be about as fast as it would be if I were using my sniper as a crutch.

The jammer is back up, as I don't believe the stalker would be that far. But I don't see it. It's either staying still, or simply out of sight. I keep scraping along. My HE ammo is active. I don't have much room, or mood, to try and minimize it anymore. The stalker will die if it pops out to try to kill me. But it isn't. A few possibilities as to why come to mind, but none of them change me going to the river. It could be anywhere, and I am moving slowly, downhill or not. But, I am close to the river. A hasty glance backwards confirms it, and I keep going. My left arm is broken again. Somehow, I feel lucky, as given how close the grenade was, one broken bone could be all I could ask for.

That, and a break.
>>
No. 512232 ID: c3663c
File 136937560051.png - (23.75KB , 700x700 , 362.png )
512232

thk
>>
No. 512234 ID: 76b151

well, thats not good. Get it out of you immediately. Don't stop going for the river though. Lets also hope you're will to live is equal to Rokoas.
>>
No. 512235 ID: f2c20c

>>512232
Oh shit. Oh SHIT. OH SHIT.

Get that dart out of your head immediately! Shoot the fucker that shot it at you!
>>
No. 512236 ID: 19b3c3

...damnit, you're in bioarmor! If that can shrug off bullets, it should damn well be able to block something thrown by hand!

Nevermind complaining about fairness, through. You've been darted. First priority is to remove it, limit your exposure as much as possible. Pull it out, or scape it off against the bank as you fall into the river. Crush the dart after, so you can't be restuck.

Fuck the hunter. Shoot if you can, but we have more important concerns to worry about now.

If possible, apply your combat knife or pistol to the affect area. Cut or blow the site of injury off the back of your head.

Fall into the river, and remain conscious. Ignore the outside world, and whatever happens to your body. You need to turn your focus inward. Meditate. Go back to every anti-mind control trick you learned while practicing with three stripes. You need to fight for control of your self, and to deal with the infection within yourself. You've beaten her every time you've fought in the real world. You'll be damned if you're going to lose within your own mind.
>>
No. 512237 ID: 19b3c3

If you can't pull the dart out quickly with your injuries (or before you fear the inner conflict will render you immobile) the fastest way to limit the damage is to slam you head backwards against the rock ground, shattering it. This will give you more exposure than instantly pulling it out (since you drive the tip into yourself), but much less than if you let the brain-slurry seep into you.
>>
No. 512239 ID: e7e7d4

Dart out first, shoot second, cut out the crazy third.
>>
No. 512240 ID: 9ddf68

oh FUCK, well here's a lesson for all you kiddies out there, things can ALWAYS get worse, case and point right here for example >>512232

The msin thing to do right now is remove the dart as quickly as you can, use you knife if you have to (that also might get rid of the infected tissue as well but will hurt like a bitch, but seeing as how you are knocking on death's door right now I don't think that will matter much) And no matter what keep going towards the river. You won't be safe in there but you will be safer then you are out here.
>>
No. 512244 ID: 735f4f

Keep moving to the river and get that dart out. With a dart that size will take a bit to inject much so the faster you remove it the less Rokoa you will have to deal with in your head.

On that note not sure if keeping your silence up would be better or worse for fighting off the dart brain. Guess we can find out later.
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No. 512254 ID: c3663c
File 136938009619.png - (114.58KB , 700x700 , 363.png )
512254

>If that can shrug off bullets, it should damn well be able to block something thrown by hand!
Unfortunately, bio armor is not resistant to certain things, and is only moderate in actual protection. Its main use is extending biological performance. That, and the stalker may have had a blowdart.

I pull the dart out. Unfortunately my return shot is slow due to having to drop my sniper to deal with that, but it happens, and I dive in the river. I am not confident in my dart removal speed, but at least it was not a full dose. There is just no escaping her.

What happens now, I am not sure. I do not know how fast acting this is. Either way, if there was any chance I would not be silent, that chance is gone.

There is a small water branch. I take it, if just to maximize the chance of not being found as soon as I pop out.
>>
No. 512255 ID: c3663c
File 136938010316.png - (18.78KB , 700x700 , 364.png )
512255

Perhap the salikai did not think I would pop out here, perhaps they simply couldn't mobilize in time, or maybe I am just lucky. No, not the latter. I get out and have a chance to continue wandering. Which is exactly what I do. I don't know how long I limp through the caverns for, but I don't think I would argue with anyone who told me days. But, somehow, someway, I'm able to stumble on a location, with just enough presence of mind to realize it is familiar. Maybe a little lucky. I go back in a river to go home.

I can feel something boiling under the surface, but it does not feel like Rokoa is trying to take over yet. Not like I know what to expect. Only the fact that I am underwater keeps me from falling unconscious. That, and the bio armor, and the fact that I am so close to home. But I am overexerted. Swimming with one arm and one leg does not help.

The alcove, and one last bit of energy. I get up to it. For all I know, all of my allies were found out, and I am going to poke my head up so that an enemy voklit can snatch me up out of the water. I pull out my pistol just in case, more out of second nature paranoia than thinking that the waterlogged pistol's single shot will do me much good.
>>
No. 512256 ID: c3663c
File 136938017222.png - (23.35KB , 700x700 , 365.png )
512256

I get to breathe again.

>"Polo?!"
"Katzati. I want a break."
>>
No. 512257 ID: 19b3c3

All right, girl. You did good. You get to pass out now.

If you can, at all, warn them that you were hit with a dart. That way they know to kill you if you start turning grey and busting out of your clothes. And that the science hivers will know what to look for while they're busy doing other medicine to you.

Also, if and when anyone asks what the hell happened to us:

Got caught in a cave in, got hit with a grenade, and a voklit tried to eat me.
>>
No. 512258 ID: f2c20c

>>512256
Alright, as soon as you are conscious again, first priority is telling them how Biles was able to disable the bugs. Then give a detailed report of your scouting results, and talk to the experienced soldiers present about your combat engagements and ask for input about what you may have done wrong, and how to improve your effectiveness in future fights.
>>
No. 512265 ID: 9ddf68

rest now kid, you've earned it
>>
No. 512271 ID: 256f3d

After all you've lost and given of yourself to get back here, you truly deserve a break. So take your well earned sleep, and here's hoping you have pleasant, comforting dreams (perhaps involving being hugged by Katzati.)
>>
No. 512281 ID: ca6df3

>>512256
you have to tell her about the dart before falling unconscious!
>>
No. 512288 ID: 051cc4

Let your body sleep, Polo. Your mind has a battle still to face.
>>
No. 512295 ID: 7292f0

I really hope the rokoa battle doesn't destroy the ability to be silent.
>>
No. 512347 ID: 256f3d

>>512295
Whether it does or doesn't, until all the Rokoa elements are removed Polo won't be able to be absolutely silent because those Rokoa bits will be broadcasting. Hopefully it won't get to the point where anybody else could sense it beyond direct contact or being adjacent to Polo.

In fact, that might make removing the Rokoa elements possible if they aren't diffused throughout Polo's body. If Polo goes silent then she or another neumono can sense exactly where the Rokoa bits are so they can be cut out.
>>
No. 512349 ID: 19b3c3

Hey, whatever happened to the mapper? I can't find any mention of whether we located and pocketed it after the cave in or not in the updates. Because if we did, Polo might still have the damaged mapper on her person for Katzati to try and dig through, even with her helmet lost.

>>512347
...you're assuming any Rokoa elements in her would set up a separate empathic network not under Polo's control. Not that it would blend into her, or be reliant on the same set of 'broadcasting equipment' as it were, that Polo controls the on/off switch to.

Considering we know next to nothing about how this works, these assumptions are unfounded. We'll just have to see what happens.

Personally, I'm hoping for a dream sequence letting us into some of Rokoa's past (compared to body horror or having your personality rewritten, reliving some of someone else's memory is almost benign).

That or we just give into insanity and get to see the slasher smile original flavor jerky Rokoa influences duke it out with the smile-less, utilitarian, amputation-fetish Rokoa dart influences for control of Polo's brain, green and grey hulk style. :V
>>
No. 512355 ID: 1d8777

>That or we just give into insanity and get to see the slasher smile original flavor jerky Rokoa influences duke it out with the smile-less, utilitarian, amputation-fetish Rokoa dart influences for control of Polo's brain, green and grey hulk style. :V
This sounds kind of awesome.
>>
No. 512360 ID: af8414

Tell her you got shot with a dart, and if you start turning into Rokoa to just kill you.
>>
No. 512361 ID: 256f3d

>>512349
From the way Polo reacted to it being crushed, I assume it was beyond recovery. And even if it wasn't, it was left behind with the stuff she booby-trapped with the bazooka round, so it was blown up and possibly burned up as well.

However, this doesn't mean that all of the map data Polo collected was lost when her helmet was destroyed. If I remember correctly, she exchanged map data with Biles, so if she or her allies can make contact with him they can get a copy of the map. Polo will have to fill in the areas after that point from memory, but since there wasn't much but tunnels mapped before the mapper was destroyed the loss in detail wouldn't be serious since there's was really only the camera positions and tunnel intersections to note.
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