This may be your allies last chance to push out. Time to throw everything in.

Lob a smoke grenade where it'll cover the most enemy forces possible, using two if one won't be enough, then reposition up here. Switch to thermal vision and use the angle of fire from the voklit's MG to trace back and estimate the position of its head. Pop up and nail it with a regular round, then pull back and reposition.

By now the smoke should be thick down there, so pop out and start laying down HE rounds where they'll knock around the most enemy possible. That'll disorient them in the smoke. Priority fire on any that have goggles or helmets, since they may have thermal optics, and any that look like they're about to fire or throw anything your way. Then liberally snapshot as many regular rounds into heads and chests as you can before you feel you've taken too long in this position and should run.

You may want to consider using your grappling hook to go over the edge and reuniting with your allies if they're pushing out instead of running down the tunnels here. If enough of the enemy forces have been killed or incapacitated then the smoke will obscure your descent.

I'm surprised we missed this for so many updates, but Polo's armor should be coated with glowslug slime and purple, not green.

Polo 2013/08/31(Sat)15:41 No. 538656 ID: d38f67
File 137798890261.png - (30.11KB , 700x700 , 556.png )

Art errors: Polo's armor is camoflauged

The voklit sprays fire sporadically, so I move to a farther spot, pop up, and snipe who I can see.

Some forces are diverging on my last known location, so I'm forced to constantly sprint from one section to the next. I shoot who I can, and sprint again when I feel it is not easy for them to converge on me quickly. Most still attempt to contain my allies, allowing me that luxury, and the sounds of the fight are moving.

I am unable to get that close, as there are constantly salikai troops running by me towards them.

I eventually hear a shout, I believe from Marra, yelling 'leave him!' They start making good ground towards an escape.

A couple of Hunters made it after all. Their empathy appears completely absorbed in bugs, and then another Three- no, Four Stripes relay comes into my senses. I expect my allies have their jammer up and are running anyways, however, so that may not be as strong of a threat as the first.

>>538655
Or, the person they're leaving behind is being controlled by the relay. Nail the Hunters with HE and AP, then find the relay and take care of it. The more relays we destroy or capture the better. They obviously have a limited supply, otherwise they'd have them EVERYWHERE.

If you can get an eye on whoever your allies are leaving behind, see if you can help them out.

Hmm that leave him comment has me worried. We should skirt around there position to see if someone was injured and they had to leave him behind.

Be very careful now that hunters are here. They are a bigger threat than the other unarmored enemies.

The leave him could be referring to Viln, Kort, or Niam. Could be dead or injured. If dead its a big loss but if injured it could be even worse. Someone left alive could be brought back to base and pumped for lots of info about what we are up to.

So we have to do our best to rescue them or sadly finish them off if that's not possible.

Leave him? Either Viln is down, or Niam, or someone dropped Kort or Lucera. Damn it. You couldn't exactly move any of them easily yourself, nevermind the enemies in the way.

...although we don't know for certain Mara was obeyed. The people who are going to be doing most the carrying are Viln and Katzati, and they might have trouble with that. Katzati's pretty big hearted, and Viln's honor might not think well of leaving allies behind.

>Or the person they're leaving behind is being controlled by the relay
...possibly, if it's Niam. Kort and Lucera are too injured for control to matter one way or another, and Viln would be unaffected.

Dealing with the relay, potentially capturing it, isn't the worst idea, if we have the opportunity for it. Be nice to have more than one jammer, again.

We also want to keep moving towards your allies, if you can (we can't fall too far behind, or you'll lose them, with enemies between you and them), and keep an eye out for whoever fell behind. It's possible we can do something to help. At the very least, it would be nice to know what happened, and to who.

Polo 2013/08/31(Sat)17:14 No. 538672 ID: d38f67
File 137799444983.png - (23.06KB , 700x700 , 557.png )

When I can, I hit the hunters with a couple of HE rounds, AP rounds, and make a break for it, zigzagging in the direction of where my allies were.

I find Niam in between some rocks.

>>538672
He's either dead or being brainwashed. Is that a grenade? Don't get close, it could be live. Take out the relay first, then try talking to him to see if he's alive. If not, just grab some supplies from him (his goggles?) and leave the body to catch up with the group.

>>538673

To be fair, if anyone still has recognizable facial features they're probably not dead. Neumono and all.

Poor clones, they're like robots, and red shirts. Always first up for the chopping block. What does your empathy tell you? Is he dead or unconscious, or is he controlled?

There's blood streaming out of his mouth, but he seems otherwise uninjured. That's odd. Maybe all the science hivers had some subliminal predator self-destruct implanted in their minds, and the relay can be used to activate it and make them brain damage themselves? If he's not already dead it might be possible to save him.

Switch to X-ray. It'll tell you if he's bugged, and any serious injury will likely show up.

Do you sense any empathy? If he's alive, you're close enough that you should. Is the four-stripes relay close? Going into a comatose state, trying to fight as he takes control, is what happened to Rokann, before.

...and yeah, be careful, that looks like a grenade close to his head.

He doesn't look injured enough be dead. Any injuries you can see that would lead your allies to leave him? Legs blown off? You getting any empathic signal from him? Maybe he got bugged somehow? Check on x-ray.

Even if you can't sense an empathic signal from him that may just indicate he's still within range of your allies jammer. But either way you'll have to approach to check.

Approach him from your left and keep out of his sight until you can reach over and silently nab that grenade. Just make sure to check that it isn't a trap first. It'd make some kind of sense for them to trap him for any enemy that tried to collect him.

If he's alive, or appears to be dead, and the relay hasn't gotten in range of here yet, jab him with a regen accelerator or two where his worst wounds are. Maybe it'll bring him back if he's only kinda-dead. Even if he is in range of the relay, still jab him with it, so he'll be regenerating while you take the relay out, or preferably capturing it for him to retool as a jammer.

But whatever you do here, you cannot leave his body intact here. There's too high a chance that the salikai have a way to bring him back enough to interrogate. You'll have to destroy him.

>>538676
Unlikely, since if he'd been effected by the first or second relay then that would mean the jammer wasn't up yet so the entire group would have been controlled and they wouldn't have gotten away.

Polo 2013/08/31(Sat)17:47 No. 538684 ID: d38f67
File 137799647012.png - (32.66KB , 700x700 , 558.png )

The relay moved elsewhere. I don't think that they are positive on where my allies are, which is good.

I wait a moment in case the grenade was live. It is not, and he is looking fresh for someone who is left for dead. He is not bugged. As I get closer, I see the problem. It was a clean cut. I expect there was a plasma sword involved.

He notices me. Without a word, he pokes the grenade with his right hand, and opens his mouth. He was intending on killing himself before the salikai get to him. He is also confident that he won't be getting out of this one, and his half-alive empathy reflects that he is having a difficult time comprehending his surroundings as is.

>>538684
Do it. His cybernetics should not be recovered by the enemy, and we have no way of getting them off him. Give the man his dying wish. Also, a salute.

Also, keep an eye out. Plasma sword means there's a cloaked hunter around.

...he's dead. A neumono might be able to survive a bisection, but only with an immediate medical response and a lot of equipment. There's no way we could get him to that in time.

Finish what he was unable to do. Mercy kill him (use the knife if you can, it's quiet). If there's no hunters in range to sense you, give him the small comfort of empathic contact as you do so.

Recover the grenade (make sure the pin is in place), take his goggle if it's not surgically attached, close his eyes, and get the hell out of there, after your allies.

If the relay is out of range and there are no enemy neumono around then drop your empathic block while with Niam.

Before you do anything, ask Niam if a cloaker did this, and if your allies killed it, or if it was just a lucky enemy.

If his mono-goggle can be used if it is removed then take it, even if you have to cut it loose from his head.

Take out the regen accelerator and tell him you wish to try a dose of it on him. Since he's already dying you may as well use him as a test subject. You have no hope it'll bring him back from this, but it'll tell you if it does what it says on the label, how strong it does it, and how much stress it puts on the body. It'll be valuable data for if you have to use it on yourself or others. And if it does kill him, then it'll save you using the grenade on him.

If he doesn't die from the injection, then try to keep from using the frag grenade to kill him. Cut his head off, place it below his torso, then spray gunfire from the Hunter MG up through it into his torso. He'll definitely be dead from that.

Yeah do him the favor of a quick death. Nothing we can do in this situation other than spare him a worse fate.

As horrible as it sounds you might want to make sure his cybernetics are completely destroyed after you shoot the grenade with a normal round. No idea how rugged the data storage on those is but if anyone could recover data from the blown up remains it would be the CAI.

We can morn his passing with the others later but for now finish him off before the other relay gets to him.

>test regen accelerators on him
...yeah no. We're here to grant him mercy, not to continue the experiment on them till they die philosophy he's endured under the salikai. He may have been born an experiment, but he won't die as one.

>shoot the grenade
...it's a grenade. We can use it as a grenade. It's easy. You put it in his hand pull the pin, and then gtfo before his grip slackens.

Assuming we can't just cut his throat quietly (it killed Jess pretty fast in the aborted timeline). I'm assuming the only reason he hasn't bled out already is the plasma blade cauterized enough.

Finish him off with the knife, we need all the munitions we can get. Apologize that you can't afford to give up that grenade.

The grenade is just how he was going to off himself, he doesn't need it if Polo's here. She can do for him and then take the grenade for herself. Don't want to waste perfectly good grenades. Not sure about the regen accelerator; I think it's more for getting lightly injured people back into the fight quicker, not for saving people who are on the brink of death. On the other hand, science hivers are science hivers, maybe he'd prefer to die in the cause of knowledge.

If there's no-one in range, give him a moment of empathy before he goes, or to see if he wants to try the regen. If anyone was in range to sense you, they'd have sensed him reacting to you already.

If we use the grenade, we have the highest chance of ruining anything the Salikai could get from him.

Hmmm the regen accelerator seems like a risky idea. It might close up his wound on his torso but we would still have to drag him away. I highly doubt that it will regrow his legs instantly or something.

We could always get close and ask him if he wants to try it but in his dazed condition he might not understand. Also our enemies are very close behind and he will be in the relays influence soon.

If we had Viln to carry him maybe we could do something but we cant carry him around and defend ourselves while making a retreat.

If we need to kill him off we should do it quickly, kindly, and thoroughly. Even cut in half a Neumono is very durable. His brain could survive for hours yet if we do not blow him up. And our enemies have some of the best evil medical tech out there. One grenade is a small price to pay to keep him from the Salikai's torture.

Would love to save him but we have enemies possibly seconds behind us. If polo thinks she can carry him we can try the regen stuff. If not then its a grenade to the head.

>>538684

We could test the regen stuff on him if he's okay with it. I mean, he's aware enough to open his mouth, so closing it could mean "yes".

However, it might be best to just toast him as he wishes. If so, thank him for his help and do the honors.

>>538699
He's a science hiver. He'd likely prefer to go out giving his allies data that'd help them.

And Jess got more than her throat cut; She was decapitated. So a full decapitation may be enough to kill him in his weakened state. And if it doesn't then a couple bursts from the Hunter MG up into his torso from where he was bisected will do it.

Really, we can't afford to use any more munitions than absolutely necessary. Saving him pain takes a backseat to that.

>>538706
A grenade in the mouth actually wouldn't be the most effective here. Pulling the pin, shoving it up into the middle of his torso, then running would be more effective. The force of the blast would travel into his arms and up into his head that way, throughly pulping everything.

>>538707
It's not to try and save him. It's to get an idea of what the regen accelerator does. Polo's going to kill him before she leaves.

1/3 Polo 2013/08/31(Sat)19:40 No. 538719 ID: d38f67
File 137800322864.png - (25.77KB , 700x700 , 559.png )

>Use the regen injection
I doubt the effects are instantaneous. I don't have seconds to waste, despite the merit in knowing how this works.

I take the grenade and his monogoggles. He starts panicking when I take the grenade, thinking I won't finish him. For a brief instant, I release my empathy to show him that he won't go back to the salikai alive. He starts slipping anyway.

"Cloaker?" I ask. He thinks so. He doesn't remember, and can't think well to give me a response.

"Thanks." I say. It's weak, but it's not a pretty situation and not a pretty death. I make sure to be cautious for cloakers after I cut through Niam's neck. With that done, I begin moving towards my allies.

You act pretty calm for someone who's obviously pretty green around death.

2/3 Polo 2013/08/31(Sat)19:40 No. 538720 ID: d38f67
File 137800323639.png - (17.91KB , 799x700 , 560.png )

I hear Viln roar my name down the tunnel. They aren't far, now. There are not nearly as many enemies running this way. The salikai might be out. They've lost a great deal trying to kill us.

Between the gunfire, occasional explosions and screams, I hear running water. Perhaps a lot.

3/3 Polo 2013/08/31(Sat)19:40 No. 538721 ID: d38f67
File 137800324337.png - (34.39KB , 1200x700 , 561.png )

Rokoa.

>>538721

It's not every day you see someone running around with a suspiciously blue arm roughly the size of their own arm ...

... yeah, that's probably more Rokoa. Well, a different Rokoa.

>>538721
That's Katzati's arm! Wait until the clone looks away, then pop out and use AP rounds on her knees and other joints. Neck? Maybe try an HE round to the visor if you can manage it, to blind her.

Don't let Rokoa get to you. She has had more than 200 years to come to term with the loss of friends, family, and comrades. You saved him from a worse fate and was there to comfort him at the end.

Ok did she get ahead of you or did she catch up? Also do you recognize the arm? If we are next to a big river this is the time to either disable her and escape or try to save her and take her with us.

From her posture this is a low tunnel and she is crouching down to move forward or she is sitting there cradling that arm for some reason. Even if we can help her get the bugs out we might have to shoot the crap out of her anyway. As she does not have a weapon in hand keep yours trained on her and try to figure out her mental state.

...she's cradling Katzati's arm? Okay, it's disturbing enough that her arm was severed, but what is she doing with it? ...physical contact? Is she drawing comfort from that fragment of Katz's consciousness as it dies?

Okay, first question? Is the clone between you and your allies? Do you need to go through her, or can she be circumvented? Because either we take advantage of her being distracted to get by, or to attack.

...if you attack instead of sneak, we need to go all out to get past that armor. Open with the grenade, and then AP her knees to prevent running or dodging.

If we disable her, that gives us options. Kill her, escape, or try to capture her for debugging. (Although you'd need help to move her).

>You act pretty calm for someone who's obviously pretty green around death.
...I do what I have to.

>She has had more than 200 years
She's only 122 in Polo's time. 172 by the time of the asteroid.

>also
...we might end up testing those regenerators on Katz. Growing back a whole arm would take, what, a month or two on it's own?

Yell to her that you are tired of Rokoa's coming to you begging to be put down. Tell her she does not get to get off that easy. You have a job to do and she is going to help you do it one way or another.

Oh, also, if Viln is yelling for you, and we hear water, there's a chance your allies plan to leave that way. We don't have a lot of time to catch up.

>Yell to her
...and completely squander an opportunity to sneak by, or surprise attack?

>>538734
>Sneak Attack

Pretty sure we haven't broken the tank's AC yet. Because I'm pretty sure that's what she's wearing.

>>538724
WUT NO. Katzati is not allowed to get hurt. She is too fat and cute for that.

Oh fuck are those scorch marks?!

1/2 Polo 2013/08/31(Sat)20:57 No. 538736 ID: d38f67
File 137800786702.png - (18.77KB , 700x700 , 562.png )

I walk by. She's looking down at Katzati's arm, and does not appear interested in keeping an eye out. I have to get by her to move to my allies.

Viln's glowslugs. A signal for you to follow. Scan for cloackers and approach, carefully. Are your allies waiting by the glowslugs?

...if not, I think that means they went in the river ahead of you. Cover and take the slugs and follow.

If you can grab a arkot body or two and tie one or two to you or throw a few in the river do so. We will still need food wherever we end up and growing a arm back will take plenty of it.

Leaving the sniper is probably for the best. There are enemies on the way and fighting her or trying to help her would take time and we already are close to loosing our group.

Maybe your advice about the bugs will help her and maybe not. But if anyone has enough willpower to fight them off its her.

>>538738
They went in the river, didn't they? Move forward, keep an eye out for distortions, and try to keep quiet. The clone will hear any gunshots.

It kindof looks like there's something near those two arkots near the river and the big blood puddle. Use your scope to get an eye on it before you move closer.

I hope Katzati is okay.

That Katzati lost her arm is bad, but don't jump to conclusions. You'll find out what happened once you get to your allies.

No time to deal with Sniper Rokoa, nor climb up to get Viln's glowslug cage. It looks like your allies have jumped in the river, though it's not absolutely certain. You've gotta get down there as fast and as silently as you can to make sure.

Switch to IR vision to watch for cloakers and get down to the riverbank. Look over to make sure that there's nothing important next to the two arkots in the blood puddle. Once you reach the bank take a quick look back to make sure that your allies weren't hiding amid the rocks, then dive in and start swimming to catch up with them.

Polo 2013/08/31(Sat)23:13 No. 538750 ID: d38f67
File 137801601389.png - (58.89KB , 700x700 , 564.png )

I move towards the river first, looking around the corner of the glowslug stick to see if they are there.

Rokann bumrushes me with the rope. Everyone else is following, attached to it, covering Rokann and myself while we make a quick knot. Katzati is alive as well, although she stumbles alongside of Viln. Everyone except Niam appears to be here.

>"We're going in and down wherever the fuck it takes us." Rokann says. Her wounds extend to her voicebox, but she can speak clearly enough. "Better solution?"

>>538750
If there's no way to bypass the sniper-rokoa and no way over the river, we have to go in it and just play chicken with death.

Might we suggest using the regen boosters on those who are seriously wounded? If anyone were to pass out underwater they're likely to die. Speaking of which, we should at least make an effort to ensure Kort and Lucera don't drown. Put bags over their heads or something like that to give them a bubble so they won't inhale any water.

...geeze, your allies really took a beating. Everybody's half dead. And that was with the advantage of defensive position and you shooting their attackers in the backs for half the fight.

Really makes me wonder if going for the open cavern would have been easier, or if it would have just gotten us killed harder.

>Better solution?
No. The river presents it's own risks, but we cannot afford to stay here. More enemy reinforcements will eventually arrive, and we're not going to put down that Rokoa clone without losing more people.

I would suggest we stall just long enough to try and improve the odds of the wounded surviving. Break out the medical supplies, and tie off or bandage the biggest leaking holes in people if it hasn't been done already, etc. Limiting blood loss will be good for keeping people alive, and lowering the risk of attracting flesh eating fishies. If we still have an air tank or masks, we may want to attach them to Kort / Lucera. Or at least make some effort to prevent them from drowning.

...it may be time to risk regenerators, too. Mara's probably fine without, and maybe Rokann too (I'm worried increased aggression or decreased common sense will be a side effect, which we can't afford in our military types). Katz might really need the pick me up at this point too, and any temporary side effects might be worth it too. Possibly Kort and Lucera too, if it's a choice between this or them dying.

Tell them we thinned out the numbers upstairs but there are still a few relays coming this way. We did not see any other side passages so this is probably the only way.

This looks like a much more dangerous river than the other ones. Double check the ropes between everyone and make sure Katzati is not about to go into shock and her stump is tied off well so she does not lose to much blood.

Make sure Kort and Lucera are tied firmly and secure there mouths if it will help avoid drowning.

Katzati might be a good candidate for the regen boosters but only if she is in really bad shape. Loosing a arm is bad but if she did not lose much blood then she might be fine. We really do not want to lose our only reliable helper in the dream world. Either to the river or to untested mystery drugs.

Make sure we secure the pack we got from the arkot NCO and if we are short on food have everyone grab one of the bodies nearby. I know its a pain but if you run out of food with everyone injured we will be in a worse spot than before.

Then hope for the best and jump on in.

What we need, really need, is just time and safety. Time to recover, time for Polo to deal with Rokoa. The river is the best chance of that.

I only wish it wasn't so obvious where we went. If someone could cross the river and go on, leaving a bit of a trail of water... Maybe Viln could, and he's big enough that the trail he leaves could look like a whole group, especially if he takes something with some blood to trail behind. It would look like he'd gone across and then used the rope to pull everyone over. He could go a distance, then shake himself out so it looks like everyone took a moment to dry off, then go back through his own trail and slip back into the river to follow the rest of you.

But it would be a big risk. And he might not be able to find us again. But being more waterworthy, he'd do better than anyone else.

Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)00:23 No. 538755 ID: d38f67
File 137802018615.png - (70.59KB , 700x700 , 565.png )

"Secure Lucera and Kort's mouths. Otherwise, is Katzati bleeding too much?"
>"No." Rokann says, and shoves me in with her before I can talk about getting bodies for food or anything of the sort.

We don't have salikai forces that catch up to us in the river, but we head in a downward slope for an alarming amount of time. There are several forks along the way, and it seems like this was an extension of the main river Katzati was talking about.

It's going to be a long walk back up, either to escape or to get to the salikai base. We spill out into another cavern, this time lit by fungi. The water widens out as well, slowing us down.

What is that to your right? Can't tell from here but it looks out of place from the rest of the caverns. Make sure its safe with Viln before you get to close.

This deep down we want to keep a eye out for anything odd. We know there are all sorts of dangerous cave beasts down here.

Right 'alarming amount of time' and several forks tell me we've gotten far enough away and left enough possible routes to follow that the enemy won't be catching up, soon. We can leave the river.

Get out, make sure the immediate area is secure, and then see about breaking out the medical gear and tending to wounded. Start with the prisoners, and Katzati, they're going to be in the worst shape.

We're also going to have equipment to dry and unjam, but tending to people comes first. This may be time to spend regeneration accelerators.

...I feel we should probably say something to Korli at some point. (And/or a hug). I doubt she took that well. Katz too, although she's probably not going to be in any state for it, soon. Although that kind of thing will have to wait till after immediate concerns are dealt with.

And when we can get to it, pretty much everyone (including yourself) needs rest and sleep, although it'll have to be done in shifts. Debugging will have to wait till later, I doubt either Lucera or Kort are stong enough after that trip.

What's that thing next to the river? Just some different rocks? That's not the fufa or anything, right?

Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)09:28 No. 538816 ID: d38f67
File 137805290759.png - (23.30KB , 700x700 , 566.png )

"Viln, is that substance harmless?"
"Yes. Smooth fungi, will try to eat small things. Do not stand on for long, but walk across is safe."

It's smooth and rubbery, but Viln helps everyone up and walk across it and get to the rocks. There's a low hum that echoes through the caves. Wildlife, I imagine.

Rokann tends to Katzati, and Marra to Lucera and Kort so I move to Korli. She looks almost unscraped by their fight, physically.

"Korli. How are you?"
>"Can't complain. I think I got hit with a couple shots, but they bounced off. Niam, though...."
"Yes. I saw him."
>"Did he manage to...?"
"The grenade? I salvaged it and finished him myself."
>"Oh. Thanks. I guess. Probably for the best. It's... gonna be weird when or if I see the real Niam, heh. Wanted to have the Niams meet each other too. Oh, well, I'm sure Niam wasn't the worst off as far as clones go." Korli makes a discomforted cough.

She might have a bit of survivors guilt for having come through unscathed. Do your best to comfort her.

After a hug or two lets get everyone together and find out what happened while you were gone. Let them know what happened on your end and check everyone's injuries.

Also take the time to scan everyone before we find a place to make camp. Have a quick look around but do not get out of sight of your group.

>>538816

Korli, are you a clone, too?

Awkward. I would have framed it as granting him mercy, at least.

>Niam wasn't the worst off as far as clones go.
...not sure if that's meant to be a reference to how fucked up the Rokoa clone came out, your own condition, or the fact that any unescaped science hiver clones are probably being experimented mercilessly on.

>>538822
Pretty sure she's not. She was honestly surprised they'd gotten the tech working, and wasn't sure how to react to Niam, at first. Don't think it would help to ask.

>what do
I'm sorry, Korli.

We can offer what limited comfort and sympathy we can with lifted silence and a hand on her shoulder or a hug (...not that either works great though armor, but it's something).

After that. We still have to get the water out of equipment, and check that the immediate area is safe before conferring with our other allies. Then we need a safe place to rest and hole up a while.

Hug Korli and tell her you are happy that she is alright.
And maybe the salikai made multiple Niam clones and we can still see him meet himself.

And yeah then its time for debriefing and trying to figure out where the hell we are.

1/2 Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)10:41 No. 538840 ID: d38f67
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I give her a hug. She returns one tightly, and does not think I was the type for hugs. I let my empathy go for a moment to show that she is right, it is a hug entirely for her sake. She appreciates it all the same.

>Ask if Korli is a clone
I don't need to know, and under the nil chance she is, I doubt she'd know.

2/2 Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)10:42 No. 538842 ID: d38f67
File 137805736696.png - (29.26KB , 700x700 , 568.png )

She and the others are clean of bugs, excepting Kort and Lucera.

"Did anything other than the obvious happen?" I ask of Marra, who is airing out her MG.
>"No. Niam and Korli got the jammer up while Rokann and I got our faces shot up. On our push out, some cloakers started jumping at us. Was about ready to jump in without you. Not much to say. Your voklit buddy is probably fine. Got hit with a bunch of shit, but obviously nothing fatal. What'd you go and do? You don't look worse for wear."
"I didn't have my back to the wall. I took out the sniper and several other individuals. I also saw the sniper clone. She is about to resist the bugs somewhat."
>"What of it?"
"It means that she's still extremely dangerous, and attempting to take her alive is still a huge risk. But if we do, there is a good chance that she will want to help us fight the salikai."
>"I don't like it. What about your case of the Rokoas?"
"I'll play the sniper Rokoa by ear. I will kill her if alternatives prove meritless. The Rokoa in me has, lately, been content in sitting by and judging me relentlessly." It's not a lie or an exaggeration. She's been studying what I do the entire time with judgements. "We have regenerators. Katzati looks like she might be able to use them."
>"Fuck no, we don't know what they do, and Katzati's barely hanging in there. Give me it, I'll test a dose."

>>538842
Alright, sure. If we're sitting in place for a bit to see what side effects there are, let's take some bullets out of Viln. Oh, and she should probably be unarmed while the drugs work, just in case the side effects include hallucinations or muscle spasms.

If we are going to test them on her make sure she is unarmored and away from any weapons. Might not be a issue but who knows what sort of mental and physical side effects these things have.

Also wait a bit before testing anything. We are still all out in the open and soaking wet. There could be a herd of flesh eating monsters over the next ridge for all we know.

Spend some time scouting the area while everyone dries out and make sure we have not landed in a horrible spot. But stay in sight.

Also would be a good idea to look through the Arkots pack now. On the off hand chance there is something in there traceable we want to find it now not later.

>Give me it, I'll test a dose.
...all right. Watch yourself, though. I wouldn't be surprised if something like this had a temporary increase in aggression or decrease in common sense as a side effect. I'd suggest staying near Rokann, she'd likely be the first to notice a change, and who you'd be most likely to listen to.

>She's been studying what I do the entire time with judgements.
...that might be useful if any of her insight is right.

>take a look through the arkot pack
Did we take that? If so, definitely check what's in there. If we got that taser, that'll be a big help in electrocution debugging Kort and Lucera later.

And yes, we still need to double check the immediate area is secure, and help pull bullets out of Viln.

Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)11:52 No. 538863 ID: d38f67
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>Arkot's pack
That exploded.

"Fine. But keep away from weapons and the like, and there is a better place for this. There may very well be dangerous creatures down here. We'll make sure this area is secure, then I'll scout forward as usual."

We dry off the rest of ourselves and our equipment, and gather a good deal of water. Most of us want to run, or hobble, away from here. Viln claims he is fine, and can wait for bullet extractions. We walk for half an hour. We don't cover much ground in that time, but while the salikai likely know the spots where we could be, they must split their forces around all of those spots. We have a good chance of being fine if we don't stay right by the river exit.

Plus, I find an excellent hiding spot. What looks like a simple rock alcove leading into more cave turns out to be made into a den of a lizard like creature that has made this into its home. It's about as good as we're going to get. Viln should be able to squeeze through the top, and can help pull equipment and people up.

>>538863
That would be a pretty damn good hiding spot. Ask Viln what kind of creature this is first, to see if it's easy to kill. It would be nice to avoid gunshots if possible.

Then again, even if someone hears the gunshot, they might not find the hiding place...

Consult Viln, see if he's familiar with the lizard. (How danger it is, if it's safe to eat, if it spouts acid when it dies, if it's full of carnivorous young, if it's a juvenile waiting for the whole pack to come back, etc). Also scan the caver with alternate vision modes, make sure it doesn't have invisible protectors like the glowworms.

Assuming we don't find anything more dangerous, or Viln doesn't have any reasons not to, we might as well kill the meat and move in.

>>538863
what about a back exit? don't want to be found with no way out.

1/2 Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)13:47 No. 538890 ID: d38f67
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>"Yes. "Viln, do you recognize this?"
"Yes. Is strong bite, but...... gun."

I shoot it. The noise is loud, but the lizard wasn't being quiet either.

2/2 Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)13:47 No. 538891 ID: d38f67
File 137806846804.png - (28.53KB , 700x700 , 571.png )

We move in, throw a rope over, and start assisting things over. There is a hole inside. I am unsure if Viln could squeeze through it, nor where it goes, but even if there was no back exit for an escape route, this is still most likely the best spot we'll find anytime soon, especially while we're moving as a slow group.

"Katzati."
>"P-polo, hello. You're okay. Are we safe?"
"As safe as we can get."
>".... I want to go home. Polo..."
"Yes?"

She looks down.

hug her you fool

>>538891
Give her a hug. This is a good time to sleep and fight Rokoa some more, by the way. Meanwhile your allies can debug Kort and Lucera while seeing how bad the side effects are from the regen boosters.

Oh, and extract the bullets from Viln too.

>looks down
...does she need help getting down? Or is she looking at / preoccupied with her missing arm? (Or is she about to say something about Rokoa?).

Either way, looks like she needs some reassurance and comfort (and/or hugs), here. You'll do what you can to make sure she gets home. She'll recover- you've seen how strong she can be.

Things still to do: finish first aid (Viln), test regeneration accelerators, set up watch rotation, and get some sleep. ...I'm reluctant to sleep with Katzati this time though. She kind of looks like she needs a chance to recover from her own demons, rather than help you with yours.

Ask what are Katzatis home and hive like anyway? Was she raised on the planet or was she a spacer? She is a cartographer so i would assume her hive is from the coast or near some sea anyway.

Talking about her home might help raise her spirits a little.

>>538891
We'll get there. We made some progress, at great loss, but still we're further along.
Even home's not safe Katzati, there's bugs there too.

This is probably the first time she's taken such a big injury; it's probably still a big deal, even if it's going to grow back eventually. Help her down, use the contact to get an empathy read on her. Comfort as appropriate.

I'd be careful about going straight to sleep to deal with Rokoa. You do need to do it, certainly, but remember how it's going to look. All of them are beaten up and Polo looks fresh as a daisy by comparison, after running off and then running back in, and the silent empathy may make her come off as untouchable, make them suspect arrogance, at least unconsciously. Help set up, Polo, and take the chance to give some pats on the shoulder or suchlike so that you can make a little mental rapport again.

>Even home's not safe Katzati, there's bugs there too.
Jeeze. I mean, that's true, but there's no need to depress her.

Yeah we need to drop the silence and cuddle up with everyone for a bit once we set up shop here. You are being a bit to super soldier right now Polo. Walking around being silent and being all business is great in the thick of combat but makes you cold and distant back at camp.

Right now everyone is starting to feel like maybe they wont ever see home again. That they got sucked into a suicide mission or worse. You have to connect with them and give them hope.

>>538910
Well, nobody's gonna notice that she's silent since everyone's in a jammer right now. Only upon physical contact would silence be obvious. That said, it probably would be a good idea to let down the silence whenever we physically touch someone.

1/4 Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)16:49 No. 538927 ID: d38f67
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>hug her you fool
She needs one at least as much as Korli. My height in comparison to hers reminds me why I found Korli far easier to hug, but Katzati doesn't care. She can still hug better than I can with one arm. Feeling her empathy doesn't yield any surprises, it's exactly as traumatized as she looks, but as usual, she responds well to physical contact. I let me empathy out, as well.

"We'll get you home. What's your home like, anyway?"
>"It's... the northern continent on the east coast. We got picked up by our ultrahive, and have made maps for the people who have been trying to map our world for years. I think eventually we plan on going on exploratory teams, since there's a lot of space to see."
"You've never been to space, then."
>"No... you have?"
"Barely. Orbit, for what seemed like a few minutes."

2/4 Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)16:58 No. 538930 ID: d38f67
File 137807992031.png - (20.45KB , 700x700 , 573.png )

I go over to Viln, who lays down so I can pull bullets from him. With my help, Katzati follows me, and half collapses nearby to continue.

>"That's what we plan on, but there's so much ground to cover on our own planet."
"More here than some barren wasteland planet in an uninhabitable wasteland."
>"There's a lot of pirate activity in those places. I don't... my hive was planning on it, but I'm scared now, if there's people like the salikai out there."
"I doubt it. If you make it through this, you'll be able to make it through anything."
>"I don't know if I can... what's it like? Space?"
"... like bad management and hurried bureacracy."
>"Polo, I'm serious."
"Sorry. It was a nice view, but I didn't get to enjoy it much. I was busy hoping my parachute and armor was reliable. In any case, you can go to space these days without having to tangle with pirates."
>"Yes, but my hive is... they want to be on the cutting edge, even if it's dangerous. I thought so too, but this... this is giving me second thoughts. What do you plan on doing, after this?"

3/4 Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)16:59 No. 538931 ID: d38f67
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I pause for a moment. I'm reminded that our situation could have been prevented by a half thought out plan, but the neumono up in orbit are giving me doubts they are capable of their jobs. If there were many precautions in place, then this place should have been swarmed by allied forces days ago.

After Viln, I start setting up a tent. Not like we need to cover ourselves from the environment, but in case we want to boil water, it would be nice to have a makeshift steamcatcher.

"... I don't know. I was training for potential missions for my hive to send me on so that we could live in some semblance of peace. In the same series of events, my training turned towards ending the salikai as soon as possible, and my hive got into an ultrahive. I have not thought about what to do after the salikai are dealt with."
>"What does your hive do?"
"Office labor. Telecommunications especially. We have a few people as military officers as well, as we know a good deal about military theory."
>"Well, you're in it, after all. Oh, geez, I'm not supposed to be here, or Lucera, or Kort. I'm sorry, I'm complaining, when those two are..."
"You don't have it the worst, but that doesn't mean you have it easy."
>"Marra, though! You should have seen her. She took a bullet that blew her... she... just kept going! It's like it didn't happen! I know her hive's reputation, but how do you even do that?!"
"I don't know. I got shot in the head once. It was not a direct hit, and I don't believe it cracked my skull, and it still was difficult to focus. You've taken more than I have, and you saw me when I surfaced at our other hiding spot."
>"... you need to sleep, for Rokoa, right?"
"Eventua-"
I'm starting.
"Yes."

4/4 Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)16:59 No. 538932 ID: d38f67
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>"Okay, I'll help."
"You've been through enough, Katzati."
>"Don't say that. If it's too much, then I can leave at any time, right?" She's trying to get up, but looks more like she's about to roll over.

>>538932
That's true. And in her dreams, she won't be missing an arm anymore. She won't feel the pain of her wounded body. Only the memories of the battle will follow her.

So anyway, get that armor off and prepare for some mega-snuggling.

I am not going to say no if you really want to help. But if you feel uncomfortable at all feel free to leave or stay in happier less violent memories.

Helping me reverse changes Rokoa has made in my earlier years while we were fighting would be a great help. And if Rokoa messes with you again feel free to leave or mess with her right back.

You are stronger than you know Katzati. I am glad to have a friend like you with me.

Make sure everyone knows what you are up to. Tell them if anyone wants to snuggle up to our pile they are free to do so. And that you are sorry you have to keep wasting time with this.

>the neumono up in orbit are giving me doubts they are capable of their jobs. If there were many precautions in place...
One potential career path is proper military paranoia officer and/or advisor. Someone needs to get the ultrahives properly security conscious and with proper fallback plans and planning.

I mean, just think how much better things would have gone if you'd had a say in organizing this. Sensible precautions that could have prevented the salikai from being anywhere near as effective as they have been.

...maybe your fame and/or notoriety will be valuable after all. People might listen.

We can give the command structure some benefits of the doubt, blaming the more obvious failing on being compromised by the salikai. Although we can certainly blame them for having sloppy enough security to be compromised in the first place.

>I'll help.
She's worried if she can face danger in the future, while she's still selflessly willing to face down a monster to try and help you.

...thank you. Rokoa will know her clone injured you. That she's shaken you. She'll probably attempt to use that against you. You'll need to be prepared for that.

>having trouble getting up.
Go to her, don't make her come to you.

Aim for the top Polo. Be the next high general of the ultrahive or whatever the job is called. You can fix the problems and keep everyone safe.

The clone in our head may know that Katzati is rattled but she also has seen just how dangerous Polo is now. She does not have any memories of us after she was cloned. So she did not realize just how capable you are.

Seeing the sniper clone also made her worried. Her counterpart could not take over a science hiver with minimal combat training. Her personality did not come out on top in that one.

Will be interesting to see what happens when she gets to your memories of what happened on her hives ship. How will she react when she realizes that her whole hive would have been dead or experimental subjects for the Salikai if not for you.

1/3 Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)20:16 No. 538958 ID: d38f67
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>Aim to change the ultrahive management
It's an idea. I would have to severely divert my education towards such things, but it is possible. For now, however, I am a soldier down under.

I go to Katzati to help her up.
"You say that you're afraid of danger in the future, yet you're insisting to help me with Rokoa."
>"It's... not really dangerous for me, though, is it?"
"No, but you sounded afraid of getting hurt, and I can almost guarantee that that will happen if you manage to dream with me again. You think you can't handle bad situations, but when they come, you do. You're stronger than you know." The sappiness of the statement makes me hesitate, but I do mean it. "There's a good underside of an alcove over there. Let's go."

2/3 Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)20:17 No. 538959 ID: d38f67
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Katzati doesn't say anything, but she's been put in a good mood.

Rokoa did see my work under favorable circumstances, and that the sniper Rokoa was not a clean victory despite the Rokoa taking over a science hiver. But in typical Rokoa fashion, those pushes and shoves only make her want to push and shove back, and harder. Although we haven't started yet, I believe she is going to rush though my memories as fast as I can in order to get to the memories leading up to and beyond the duel between me and the real Rokoa.

I let the others know Katzati and I have to sleep.
"Are you going to be able to sleep on this surface?" I ask her when we get to a decent spot.
>"Yes, I can sleep about anywhere. Uh... I can't just drop my high arm over you if I get on my side, though, and more surface area is good for this. This.. isn't quite going to work out as well."
"Stay on your side, I'll lean back on... no, I'd roll off at some point. Or you onto me."
>"I'll just lie on my back, get on top."
"That's..."
>"... yeah, with my clothes... uh, Polo, I need to change anyway, would you mind helping me? Just grab a blanket, then you can sleep on me."
".... on you?"
>"You'll be good. It's going to be better than a sleeping back on the rocks, I promise."
"Fine."

Legendary supersoldier Polo carefully takes someone's clothes off.

Polo Quest - Thread 3 END Polo 2013/09/01(Sun)20:18 No. 538960 ID: d38f67
File 137809191665.png - (16.61KB , 700x700 , 578.png )

"...."
>"Well? I won't roll around either."
".... it's fine."
>"I'm sorry if this is awkward for you, but I think this is the best way for you to sleep."
"It's fine." Not even my hive tends to sleep like this with me. Deep seated mental discomfort aside and heavy logistics for a simple act aside, she feels like a heated waterbed. "Remember to remember the details and tell me what changed afterwards."
>"Yes."
"I don't think much has changed. It is a long while until my life is anything but sheltered training, and Rokoa's life is a long ways until it's anything but a bloody travesty to civilized species."

Speaking for your sake, I sure hope she sticks around through our fight. If she's gone, then what are you going to do when I catch up through your memories to present date and make you forget the truths that Katzati's told you?
I'll manage.

"Oh. Katzati."
>"Yes?"
"Thank you."

Choose a character to follow for the beginning of the next thread:
- Polo
- Biles

Biles, it'll be nice to go on the offensive instead of shooting and scooting.

Polo all the way.

I'd add my voices to those pushing you to the command track, Polo. You'd need training, but it's something you're going to need anyway, if there are going to be more missions like this. Maybe some day you can set up a secret service. With spy gadgets and ninjas special agents, and plenty of your own hive to handle the information load and the bureaucracy you'll need. You guys need that sort of thing, and it's going to become a thing anyway, with all this fancy new jammer technology. Might as well do it the right way, and put it in the hands of someone like you, Polo. You're even-handed and open-minded, and you can get it started on the right tracks.

That said, I think we need to visit Biles. He's probably in even worse straits than this lot.

Biles.

Lets go green
Biles

As much as I want to finish the mental battle with Rokoa lets go check on Biles for a bit.

I want to see what Biles is up to. It'd be nice to be in control of someone who isn't jinxed, too.

Polo. We've been putting off the metal battle too long. Be nice to make progress with that instead of hopping perspectives to Biles and doing more guerrilla cave fighting. We just did tons of that.

...although I wouldn't object to seeing both fronts.

>severely divert training
...well, only if you actually went for a management role. Just advising, or encouraging a change in overall mindset doesn't necessarily require that.

Also, it doesn't have to be all done by you, per se. We could see about getting some of those other military theory Sealock people in a position to get the ultrahive to act intelligently.

>Not even my hive tends to sleep like this with me.
As if anyone in your hive is big enough to sleep with you this way.

Lets see things from Biles' perspective.

- Sniper Rokoa

>>538998
...that would be a very interesting and tragic perspective.

>>538999
I agree, if unable though. Biles then.

Stick with Polo. Biles has already shown he's quite capable on his own and I'd rather work to keep as much of Polo's mind intact as possible.

>>538999
It does sound intriguing, but also sounds like we'd be quite limited in our control, what with the mind-bugs and all. Could get frustrating.

>>538927
Missed saying this before, but the next time you hug Katzati lean forward so you're under her bosom and then straighten up. It'll be less awkward and easier on the neck than getting your face mashed against it.

Sniper Rokoa would be interesting, that's for sure.

If that's not an actual option, then Polo I guess.

Fuck yeah Biles!

>>538998
That would be really cool.
I uh, vote for that.
If not that then Biles if only because I'm scared of breaking Polo.

I'm gonna stick with Polo. I don't really do this whole 'gurilla tactics+cave fighting' thingy so well. Granted Mind Battles are tricky as well, but they're a tricky I'm more comfortable with.