>>526952
Hmm. Well, I'm not sure if any disciplinary action is necessary, and if it is, Pilon would probably want to dole it out. We could dock her pay?

I suppose Kappi will be happy that Rokoa's around again. How's construction doing? Oh, what about the other mission that was run in parallel to this one?

Well the high end bio armor is nice but unless you have someone who can actually use the thing its sort of useless. So until we can find someone to put it on or a rich buyer we probably do not have to worry about that much.

Those two seem like they are looking for a new home and have a lot of skills and contacts that could be very useful to us. So try to get them to set up shop here and see how it works out.

As for Rokoa just tell Kappi she is his problem now. Also tease him about his clingy new girlfriend.

If Rokoa wanted that armor, she had plenty of chance to take it in the field. She's renegotiating more than that.

Rokoa is Pilon's problem. That's what you needed a negotiator for, right? Or maybe Kappi's. He's the idiot who fell for her.

as for what to do about the mission... mistakes where made I won't lie but give me one operation that was clear of any mistakes. Still we nearly lost an entire unit of both Pilon's kids and green squad solders and it took nothing short of a war to pull them out. That and the 2 new guys did something that kinda dismantled the salkai(i have no idea how to spell it) family's leader of the whole thing which actually stopping the fighting which let us pull our guys out and get at least some useful and potentially valuable items so it wasn't a complete lost...so I guess that's a plus for the new guys but still lets wait on the interview before we decide anything about them. Sigh, we also can't overlook that This was Karri's first mission as a leader so I'm guessing so has some leeway but still the where red flags everywhere and she ignored all of them so I guess ask Pilon what he would do cause I think she should get some kind of punishment but at the same time she never did give up on the men under her control and did everything she could to get them all out alive.

As for the stuff we grabbed form that little skirmish, especially the bio-armor, think we can research it and find a way to make it ourselves? Even if it's only half as good or even less as the original that still more in our bio-armor research points then we have now, which is at zero. For the other stuff research it and see what is and if it's useful to us, then sell whatever we can't use

Also as for Jells, tell him in the future he should make sure whatever job he picks for us are legit, if he isn't sure do some research to make sure this kind of crap never happens again, and if he can't find out if it's legit or not then just assume it isn't and focus on the mission we know are.

After we got all that settled lets get our little interview on so we can get that over with and see what Rokoa wants from us next. 10 bucks it has something to do with the armor... or her saying she has paid her debt back in full and we can go shove it or something like that...sigh, this is turning into a hell of a day.

so any one wont to bet on what level bio-armor got salvage?

(Errr can we get a map recap?)

>>526967
It's Red's 80%, with an integrated Polo-type one-way jammer (although it restricts empathic reception range, unlike Polo's).

Currently that's Jess and Itcher's best bartering tip. Although the CAI and Ben might also be interested in that surveillance gear he's wearing, and the fact it was hooked up to Whisker's CAI.

(Also, the CAI's totally gonna like Jess. She does computers! We need more people round here who do computers. We need the attention, yanno).

Tin 2013/07/24(Wed)17:35 No. 526978 ID: d38f67
File 137471250628.png - (20.50KB , 700x700 , 742.png )

"Alright. I'll leave it up to you if Karri will be disciplined for this." Pilon gives me a nod. Probably's just gonna give Karri some sort of disappointed father talk, but damn if I care. "You, Wendel, are gonna get a lot more flak from your guys than I could give you, so I won't even bother. Don't leave just yet. Either of you. Kappi, come in."
>"Yes?"
"How is construction going, and how did the 3k mission go?"
>"Steadily and good, the CAI is saying. The defense should be online before long, then they can focus on other things."
"Good. Rokoa wants to talk. She's your girlfriend, your problem."
>"Uh... I think she wants a share of that new bio armor. Like, enough to pay off what she owes for the one she's wearing."
"Is that so. But then she won't have an excuse to go cling to you."
>"uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh do you really want me to do the negotiation?"
"Pilon, you want to talk to Rokoa?"
>"I'd... rather not. Kappi, if you want to be Rokoa's partner, you will have to learn to talk to her easily. She will give up on you if you don't get that far."

I hear the CAI through Kappi's channel.
"We can speak to her!"
"Just let her go if she wants out. But don't let Kappi talk to her, he'll give her the whole hub if she wants it!"
"Or we could not give her anything, how about that? She just left the armor behind, don't let her weasel out of our deal. We have more right to the armor than her."

uh, let Kappi decide weather or not he wants to talk to Rokoa, I mean if he truly doesn't then I don't think it would be a good idea to force him... A little bit worried about letting the CIA handle thing though. Just saying. Also we just fixed this damn base up I don't want to risk having Rokoa blowing it back down and we don't even know what she really wants, I mean Kappi says he has an idea or at least the basics but we don't really know the specifics so lets get that at least before we decide to say yes or no.

Man up, Kappi.

Let's see how much we owe her in debt forgiveness for what she did. Although, that's more saving our people than the bioarmor. Bioarmor isn't even in our hands yet- Jess and Itcher claimed it and they're still technically a third party.

And it stands to reason we won't be able to keep Rokoa on contract forever. And it's not like she would have helped us if and when things went poorly between the trade hub and hive.

>>526978
Whatever the case, we can't negotiate giving her a share of the armor until we find out what it's worth. Basically what needs to happen is that Rokoa's involvement needs to quantified. Did she come there to help expecting to get rewarded? From what we've heard, she did not. If she did it on her own, then there is no reason for us to pay her for what she did. That's not to say we aren't grateful, and gratitude does count for a lot. Let's say she has one favor she can cash in with us in the future.

Just thinking here but isnt 94% a huge amount more powerfull then 80% even with a built in jammer?

Kappi if you are going to get anywhere with Rokoa you have to toughen up.

She left that bio armor there and it was free loot to anyone willing to peel it off the horribly mangled corpse.

So don't assume anything until she gets here and if she does try to pull anything with the bio armor mention that salvage rights go to whoever actually salvaged the stuff.

I don't think Rokoa ever expects you to be as tough as her but if you stand up for yourself and your friends and don't let her push you around to much you might just impress her.

Also try to avoid letting the Cai negotiate with anyone. Who knows what it would decide on.

Oh also to Kappi- "Try not to get us all killed."

>>526986
No. We've never seen a one-way jammer before. Or a jammer integrated into bioarmor (no one shot killing it). Polo's silence grants her a huge advantage in combat- well more than a mere 16 points of bioarmor are worth.

One of a kind new tech with highly applicable combat uses is hella valuable.

In fact, it might be more useful to see if the CAI can understand the tech than just to use or sell it.

And Rokoa's already paid off part of her debt, anyways.

1/2 Tin 2013/07/24(Wed)18:28 No. 527013 ID: d38f67
File 137471569782.png - (19.94KB , 975x606 , 743.png )

"Ben. We got bio armor. Can you do something with it?"
>"Neh! Not my work! If you want someone working with fur clinging nanobots, you go find out who made it!"
"CAI?"
>"Need data!"
"Kappi, send Itcher and Jessica up, now."
>"Okay. And okay, I'll talk with Rokoa."
"Good. Get in contact with her. I will tell you how much the bio armor is worth shortly, so gather the few nerves you have left before she comes to you."

2/2 Tin 2013/07/24(Wed)18:28 No. 527014 ID: d38f67
File 137471570449.png - (9.95KB , 936x531 , 744.png )

"Hello. Apparently you're a 'tax collector and slash or accountant'. And you, girl, are..."
>"A secretary with computer know how."
"Right. Itcher, do you intend on selling that bio armor?"
>"Unless Jess here's gonna put it on."
"If you work here, we will want a cut. Not a small one, but we'll give you a good position here."
>"Yeah, like what?"
"Finance managing. Do you know any law?"
>"I read fine print."
"That's a yes. You'll do that too, cause damn if we aren't having deals that are going sour because of no communication. Jessica, you can continue being his assistant. Or Kappi's. We'll give you hours, someone'll give you stuff to do."
>"So we're hired, then?" Itcher asks.
"If you want. First task, is how much is that bio armor worth?"
>"Expect to get 'bout 800k for it. Thing's only 80%, but that tech's not in any supply down here. So now, if I'm gonna be your finance manager, let me start making changes. Heard from Hok that you take somethin' like 80% of his money every time he comes walking through the door."
"And I still feel like I am favoring him."
>"The Zozu don't even do shit that fucked. Not even to their lowest scumbags in the worst ghetto blocks."

>>527014
They don't know Hok. He's a bag of trouble and that fee is part of his payment for us sheltering him from all the people that want him dead. That said, you know he has been treated badly in ways beyond that debt, and if he continues to reliably work under us to our advantage we can treat him better.

Tell them about Hok, give them a good idea of why he's so maligned and hunted. List off his rap sheet, if it won't take all day.

>>527022
Oh and if they seem hesitant to accept Hok's situation, call him up and ask him if he'd like to leave due to how he's treated.

...is this 80% thing something we do to Hok just because he's Hok, or is it across the board? That kind of shapes how we respond.

>The Zozu don't even do shit that fucked.
The Zozu don't have to put up with Hok.

>if everyone
But if you think you can make us more money or get us better results with less taxes, well, let's see it. You have <arbitrary unreasonable asteroid time unit>.

>if just Hok
But fine, tax collector, if you want to start going easy on him, that's your call. But that means it's your problem is that means he starts acting up as a result.

Itcher ain't sporting a reverse mustache. He hasn't shaved. That means Whisker's spy gear is still on him. Not that Tin knows that exists, but... he might want to do something about that soon. And the CAI might be interested in studying another CAI's work.

Not sure if we ever got a clear answer on the whole Hok thing before.

Hok maybe be paying a ton for protection but if we are going to expand this operation we do not need people thinking we are abusing the help.

And for all the crap he gets Hok is a very valuable asset. Regardless of your personal feeling for him Tin we cant have all the new hires showing up worried we are going to fuck them.

part of that is protection money he pays us not to throw him to the wolves when they come knocking for him. We do look after our people. He also can chose to leave us at any point in the past, present, and future but still chooses to stay here. You can also chose to leave at any time should you find yourselves not finding the trading hub to your liking. and Huk is a special case regardless so you don't have to worry about such an uneven pay split. (I mean the guy's got what, $10,000 on his head?)

Yeah, we all have a problem with the way this establishment is treating Hok, but it's not as simple as his cash being stolen.

This place is his base of operations in a very real way. It's not said and he's not part of running things here but this place is in the end being built around his effort to make a way off this rock. When they extort 80% of his earnings it's less extortion and more asking for the amount for upkeep and expansion of the place he's working out of.

Honestly, us of the CAI are working for his cockamamy plan to get off this rock rather than the person sitting behind the desk. I personally think she should be a little more polite but I'm not gonna harp on about their relationship.

>>527041
Well to be fair, Pilon has even more money on his head. And as far as the hive is concerned, every neumono here is marked for death. And the iron cove and the Zozu aren't too happy with several lots of our people either. We can't exactly maintain that attitude of milking people not to sell them out.

...where'd Minil go? She was the one escort client to survive. Ex-Zozu, too.

Manil probably knew where the money was stashed, too. If we can track her down we can get that cash. Oh, wait, wasn't there one that chickened out? We could interrogate them too.

>>527054
Stashed? It wasn't stashed anywhere. The gold was the cargo. Along with a bunch of other stolen stuff. Which the Zozu now have. We just got away with our lives and duplicates of the data included in the loot. Which includes maps to locations we could check out, but we'll be competing with the Zozu to get to that stuff first, and Minil doesn't know anything useful. She was blackmailed into the mess.

And yeah, there was a 5th member of the party who bailed before Karri and co arrived. They're probably dead at this point, and not worth looking for even if they're not.

>>527046
yeah well I couldn't really remember anyone's bounty but Huk's and even that one I'm still not to sure what the exact price is, and Pilon has his own privet army of sorts. Still I wasn't say we milk our people for protection I was trying to say that we won't abounded anyone working for us.

Are you serious?
We're a capitalist trading post, not a criminal "family". There's hardly loyalty here beyond the friendships and connections we make. We treat our people well and don't betray them. For Hok's case... we won't betray him. Point is, we can get away with it. Hok has a unique personality and reputation, even those with higher bounties are sought less than Hok, because they actually fear those bounties and generally only pursue those for financial reasons. Hok has a habit of not only gathering more bounty, but more people hating him as he goes. We'll get hunters that both want the money and to run his ass through and mount it as a mantle piece for personal reasons.

Hok is a man capable of a having a negative reputation so far down, you can't even come up with a word for it, much less an analogy.

1/2 Tin 2013/07/24(Wed)20:44 No. 527133 ID: d38f67
File 137472385020.png - (14.73KB , 793x609 , 745.png )

"The Zozu don't have to put up with Hok. And Hok doesn't have to put up with us. We aren't holding a thing over his head to make him come back. But he does, because we're the closest thing he has to a safe base. I'd list his rap sheet, but we have work to do sometime today. But I'm delegating, so if you want to take a look at our books and you think it's a good idea to go easy on him, then fine. It's not like we need possible mercs thinking we treat everybody like Hok. Because we don't."
>"Well, teaches me for thinking first impressions should count for a damn thing. I'll be taking a look at the books anyway, so if there's nothin' else, I'll get to it, and open my fat trap when I know a damn thing."
"Didn't think it was like Zozu guys to talk to their bosses like that."
>"S'not, but that's cause they'll make you go 'missing' if you talk to the wrong boss like that, not cause they're Zozu. Figured you don't run that business."
"I'm an open book, then, because no, I don't run that business. Not even close. Do yourself a favor and remember that we're not a criminal family, we're capitalists. Starved capitalists."
>"Noted."
"Good. Actually, since you're so good at reading people, you go talk to Jells. I'll have the CAI brief you on why. I have other stuff that takes priority. Either way, tell him to put a damn shirt on."
>"Got it. Come on, Jess."

2/2 Tin 2013/07/24(Wed)20:44 No. 527134 ID: d38f67
File 137472386168.png - (7.41KB , 822x531 , 746.png )

Priorities.

Getting mercs out there to take more jobs that aren't a big clusterfuck would be damn nice, but I'm remembering why I was content in sitting here letting the hub do its thing.

I flip the CAI's speakers back on. "I was told we harvested a copy of the data that provides a map. Show me."

>"There's one near the core of the asteroid that's mostly accessable but difficult to navigate to with shifting gravity. Then, one buried in the center of a mountain. We'll need a lot of mining equipment to get to that. Annnd then there's one that's right underneath the rich people sector."
"I suppose our teams need a rest anyway."
>"If we sell that bio armor quickly, we'll have a ton of money and be able to buy a whole bunch of..."
>"Everything."

It's about time to decide what this place is going to focus on. No need for it to be a pure trading hub, but it could stand to have more traffic and expansion. or I could make it a residential and habitable haven that has enough defense, or just go the full mile on defense and make this a militaristic fort. Hell, while I'm at impractical buildings, why not a research tower that Ben will have all to himself given our current science staff.

Why are you all talking like Hok is a liability? We are essentially working for him. Certainly our goal here is helping him escape the asteroid, rather than just building our little trade hub into a powerhouse.

I just got a idea(plase tell me if im being meta) y dont we make mechs? We have the gear and man/robot power to do it so whats stoping us from making 10 to 50 mechs or even lighter ones in the 2/4 ton range? Or even exoarmor for GF?

>>527137
(By 10 to 50 i mean 10/50 tons)

I say go for a balanced mix. Plenty of room for people with the best defenses we can get without going to overboard. And a nice science area so we can actually make use of a Cai and Ben.

You want to tread the thin line where you are powerful enough to defend yourself but have politics that make you neutral enough so no one thinks its worth taking you on.

Treating our people right and making sure everyone knows it is a good first step. Zozu lost Itcher and Jess because they did not treat them right. We do not want to make that mistake and have someone betray us down the road.

We might want to work on eventually being able to leave the asteroid. Am sure there are plenty of people who are fine living here but if we could control the only reliable way on and off the rock it would give us a huge advantage.

>>527134
What's that you're drinking?

Considering we have data on one of the most precious of secrets on the asteroid, I think we could stand to have more defense. And more research.

>>527136
Because Hok is a liability, with the number of people who want him dead. Yes, he comes with a useful skillset and certain advantages, but being his friend comes with serious costs, too. (Also, Tin doesn't work for him, nor does the trade hub, nor does the CAI, anymore. Not sure who you think "we" are, working for him).

>>527137
We're not making absurd animie style mechas because the asteroidverse runs on halfway reasonable physics and those things are completely infeasible.

Power armor is possible (Polo fought one!) but the reason we're not making any of that is because the plans / tech are probably proprietary / highly valuable and we don't have them (we had to take apart bikes to learn how to build them, before), and don't have the resources for full scale industrial production, especially with the base in shambles.

>Base focus
Go for balance. We want habitation, research, trade, and defense. If we go too far any one way, bad things happen. Villages and pure science just attracts people moving in to exploit you as a resource. Too much military build up makes existing powers thing you're a threat. You need enough habitation for a labor force, tax base, and market to support financing your R&D and military. A balanced approach is the best way to get the most returns with the least cost.

well our end goal is to build us a ship to get off this damn rock so I think we should go with where the money is. Merc work is nice but after our last little cluster fuck I don't think we should try anything to big anytime soon. plus I would like to get some better equipment for our guys on the field before we go for the bigger merc missions as well. So I guess try and get trade going through here a bit more and up our defenses. I can see us doing a lot more merc missions in the future but it wouldn't hurt to have something to fall back on when business is slow or our guys need some R&R after a mission to lick there wounds so having a steady stream of trade going through here would be nice as well. and until our research team grows beyond one guy I think we should focus on putting our money into other things, like getting more researchers and upgrading our base and solders.

>>527136
WE are currently the manager of this hub. Hok is a liability to the safety of this place because everyone else in the universe wants him dead, and every time he walks in the door he brings down an atomic shitstorm on our heads.

When we're Hok, we can convince other us to cut us a break.

I suggest a balance. Go far in EVERY direction, with lots of guns, research centers, and trade. I'm talking bullet-proof shopping malls, a privatized military-industrial complex, a trading port that harvests information. Things like that.

Rebuilding the internet is a priority for another time.

>>527153
i ment six legged mechs are more stable then 4 or 2 legged mechs as they can tripod it wile moving(see pic)
*0*< leg on ground
0*0< leg in air
I see lots of ways to use this type of movement like heavy cargo craft and weapons platforms

Were always us, the fact that Hok and Tin listen to us is because we are a CAI, and that makes us good at things.

I think you all need to get your priorities straight. We aren't here to make the trade hub into a fortress or a paradise or the first democratically run outpost on this rock. We are supposed to be working towards building a spaceship on a high gravity rock with no industrial capability.

Tin, we should expand trade greatly, both for better profits from the hub itself, and because we are going to need to traders coming to buy the materials we need. Set up the doc with a good lab but no mad scientist towers.

Also, get to work setting up two manufacturing areas, one with high precisions mechanics meant for making microelectronics, and another for making large custom parts meant for vehicles and eventually space ship parts.

As for defense, obviously we need to beef up. A few more turrets here and there are good but we don't want enemies engaging us at our walls. Build an array of scouting and combat vehicles. No matter who comes knocking we want to be able to engage them with guerilla tactics to minimize our own losses. To this end, also set up hidden bolt holes in the area with ammunition and other basic supplies. Lastly, build us a fleet of combat and recon drones. Even without the help of green force or Pilon's crew we should be able to defend this place, with no risk of losing our rather small mercenary contingent. It'll free them up to do work outside the hub like the stuff that went so bad just now. Hopefully with better information we wont have any more debacles like the last one.

Last thing, hire envoys to all the major outposts we know of. We are a trade hub and that means we need to make things amenable for a variety of factions, and as is we are sadly lacking in both intel and diplomatic involvement.

>>527134
Full on economic center.
I want to produce shit son. I want to export. I want workers in low wage factories that we sell at high prices at shops, I want fucking spas, nightclubs, and have an innovative lab. I want to find homeless neumono rogues with families to care for and are willing to horrifically almost die to experiments so they can feed their children for life in a nice home. Then I want to hypocritically insult the shit out of other settlements and organizations for their questionable practices. I want Green Force in top tier gear in large fucking numbers so WE CAN PUSH OUR HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS AROUND. AND I WANT THE CITIZENS LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT!

I want this place to be a money making monster. I fucking want it all.
ALL THE OPTIONS! ALL THE FOCUSES! THIS. IS. TROPICO!

> Were always us, the fact that Hok and Tin listen to us is because we are a CAI, and that makes us good at things.
We're only the CAI when we're the CAI. We're not the CAI now, we're Tin. It's called perspective hopping, get used to it. :V

Getting off this rock is an objective, but not the only one. We need a sustainable faction to get there- we need to be able to do the research, gather the tech and materials necessary, manufacture our ship, keep everyone who would fuck it up from doing so, keep our people safe and happy in the meantime, and then either evac the whole place or set up a stable route on and off the asteroid.

I'd like this place to stay neutral ground for everyone. Two warring factions can come here, get a drink, then hash out a ceasefire with nobody worrying about getting shot. Each faction has an embassy where people can come to talk or work out deals.

We can't shelter anyone, we can't favor anyone. We don't want all the fugitives running here because it's "safe" that's not the kind of neutral I mean.

I think Itcher and Jessica can be representatives of Zozu till something better gets worked out. And I suggest we ask someone from Black Supernova to come set up an office here.

>>527413
That... doesn't work. We can't be neutral- we already have enemies. And we have people with enemies.

And Jess and Itcher are decidedly Ex-Zozu. If they tried to pose as representatives, they'd just piss the Zozu off, and get themselves killed.

>>527194
FUCKING THIS
Also, set aside some money for defence,
Fuckin' bandits will want a bite of us if we have so much MOOLAH

>>527194
Well, excepting the homeless-neumono-experiment part, anyway.
Gotta have morals, man.

>>527194
I agree with El Presidente on the subject of getting lots of money, but we REALLY need science too. Can't we compromise by going half-trade, half-laboratories, all covered in guns?

I'd say half residence/trade (with recreation facilities for the travelers), half science. With basic defenses, but eventually the science will give us more advanced/cheaper defenses! Hopefully.

Tin 2013/07/25(Thu)18:40 No. 527491 ID: d38f67
File 137480283902.png - (28.60KB , 700x700 , 747.png )

>Why are you all talking like Hok is a liability?
Because he has enemies. The other issue with Hok is that he's a high magnitude wild card. Unwittingly or not, he's been behind clusterfucks in the past that make the last mission look like a lover's quarrel. How his bounty is as low as it is is some kind of freak enigma.

I have learned to gain some trust for him in recent weeks, but sometimes I am more afraid of his presence inside of this hub than I am of Rokoa, and it will take a long string of him rolling in money for me to start thinking otherwise.

>Make mechspower armor/small ships
Those would be nice. We barely have enough vehicles at the moment to house our troops. With some work, money, and research, we can get such things.

".... yeah. Everything. Keep the economics up, but balanced all around. Defenses are mandatory no matter what, but don't overdo it. We'll work on science later."

Ben's looking as happy as ever.

"CAI, show me Hok. Pilon, Wendel, your teams are on R&R. You may both go, now, thanks."

There he is. Doing his thing. Might be good to send him out. I know nothing about what is going on out there, cept Zozu and the Nova are still having scrimmages here and there. He's gonna cause trouble. I know it. And I don't want him around when he does.

uh... how did his mission with finding the hacker go? I thought that was running parallel with the whole 'escort' mission Karri just got back from... or has he still have yet to leave?

Wait is Rokoa already here and tormenting Kappi?

Did she find some blood outside to just roll around in or is that from one of ours?

>>527491
So, send the wildcard out on a scouting mission? Sure, why not. Worst thing that happens is he comes running back to base with an army on his heels. As it happens, we have turrets to prepare for that scenario! So, we're prepared for the worst case.

>>527495
It's brown, so if it's blood from a Hemoglobin utilizing species, it's already dry. Clearly she brutally eviscerated someone just to be extra scary when she met him.

Also, we should definitely send Hok on a scouting mission. Maybe he'll bring back another hyperintelligent illegal rogue AI.

...why is Rokoa covered in blood? She's still wearing Red's red?

Man, if she's all riled up and wants to make up for Red disappointing her so badly, Kappi's gonna have a rough night of it, I think.

Try not to throw the reluctance to pay her in her face, Kappi. We're glad she saved our friends, you're glad (if terrified) to see her and you even managed to get Pilon after all, right under the nose of some space pirates! You're not so much of a wuss!

>Get Hok to do something
...why not. Base will be safer without him stirring up problems, and if you keep him interested, he can't be breaking anything. It's not like that hacker could have kept him occupied for long.

And you suppose if you send him on a mission you get to see if Itcher's idea will work any better. Never let it be said you weren't willing to be scientific.

Guess we could send Hok out to see how our little debacle was received by the other factions.

Tell him to bring back a unicorn this time.

>>527491
Ben, listen, we'll throw funding your way if you got some good ideas cooked up okay? Immediately profitable ideas, or even something that might be good to invest in for future products by going for academic pursuits, that's all fine. Awesome science shit? Just throw us your proposals and we'll work with you. If you need a business guy to help drum up your stuff, well, we'll give you Itcher's contact information. He's got a lot of info to gather right now since he's new, but he'll be useful. If you want a personal financial assistant instead of having to wait for Itcher's availability to help with all the business ends for running your lab, we can try and look for that too. Just let us know please.

Hok, babe, can you go skilled employee shopping out there? Just go and look for some good people or get some blueprints. If you can find anything on factories, that's fucking perfect. Gather good intel, anything that helps economics, research, or defense, go for it.

>>527501
<spoiler>Damn it, now I've got that song stuck in my head. Suffer as you've made me suffer!
Space unicorn! Soaring through the stars! Delivering the rainbows...all around the world!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17o1OlroNSE </spoiler>

Seriously, this is the best idea, IMHO. Get in touch with Yani, too. Ear to the ground, and find out everything you can. It's only with enough verified information that you can make the best plan of action.

1/2 Tin 2013/07/25(Thu)20:34 No. 527537 ID: d38f67
File 137480967277.png - (13.25KB , 700x700 , 748.png )

I'll speak to Ben more about the prospects, but I feel like he will explode for 30 minutes if I drop a pin anywhere around him.

>How did his mission with finding the hacker go?
Recent logs show he is done.

>Wait is Rokoa already here and tormenting Kappi?
She was wanting to speak, after all, in person. She was already here. And didn't bother to shower after running around the outpost messing with the Zozu.

"Hok, pay attention."
>"Hey Tin, my brain's all ears."
"New mission."
>"Just got back from the last! Did you know that hackers are like small lizards? You put a hand in front of them, and they just run right around into any old trap without looking."
"Yes. Good job. I am going to speak to Itcher, and he will speak to you about payment for the next one. Bring back a unicorn this time."
>"Uh I don't think th-"
"I mean crap like blueprints, talent, stuff like that."
>"Well okay th-"

2/2 Hok 2013/07/25(Thu)20:35 No. 527538 ID: d38f67
File 137480972087.png - (19.47KB , 700x700 , 749.png )

"-en, see you later Tin. Guess I'll just go wherever." Just in case she could still hear me.
>"Hey. Hok." That sounds like the winning combination of alcohol and irritability that's called Itcher.
"Heya, Itchy."
>"I'm going to sharpen Jessica's teeth on you if you call me that again. We're sorting out your next job. You get us info, that's the short of it."
"Cool. What's it pay?"
>"300 zeny."
"Hey, listen, that's pretty cool, except that's about what my allowance was when I was 10, and fr-"
>"You get to keep all of that on your return."
"Yeah, hey, listen, that does make it a little better than my allowance, but you know, I think I-."
>"Think about it this way. Normally we take like 80% or whatever number Agnes feels like pronouncing that moment, and that comes out to thousands of zeny, right?"
"Yep."
>"Well with this plan, you won't have to pay thousands. You'll be saving thousands of zeny with this mission. Sounds a bit more appealing, yeah?"

Hm. The idiocy of that logic strikes me so hard, I might be dumbfounded enough to actually be dumb about it!

>>527538
If you keep the 80% you'd normally lose that means it's actually a 1500 zeny job! You could ask for like, 500 or something maybe, instead, to make it more like 2500 zeny.

Also hok are you even hitting the balls with those paddles or just swinging them around like a doofus?

so other then crap pay, what's the job anyways Itchy?

Hok 2013/07/25(Thu)21:03 No. 527558 ID: d38f67
File 137481141151.png - (14.68KB , 700x700 , 750.png )

>Are you just swinging them around like a doofus?
I assure you, it is far harder to swing two paddle strings around continuously without tangling the strings together or hitting yourself in the eye, than it is simply hitting balls with a psddle!

"So what's this job like, Itchy?"
>"Jells tells me you've got to go out and get the word on what Zozu's doin', and what those bandits Pilon was sieged by are doin'. Here's a tip, I doubt Zozu's doin' much against you guys. Us. Not just that, but other bandits too. Basically just run around each outpost around here and see what's up. Easy stuff."
"Well then, I can investigate some bandits! Five hundred! That way I can pretend it's a 2500 zeny job."
>"Sure, fine. We're not sparing any cars either, so you'll have to hitch a ride with one of the traders going out. Just gonna assume you know how to disguise yourself."
"As a matter of fact, I do!"
>"Tell me you aren't just switching hats."
"You kidding? Hats are how we tell each other apart!"
>"Do better."

>>527558
Wear a different shirt too. Maybe wear sunglasses to obscure your weird eyes.

Also you realize Jessica is going to bite you now, right? You called him Itchy again.

Skin color, and eyes are important too. Can we scrounge up some contacts, or dyes? Or roll yourself in something?

We could fake more visible mutations too, but that kind of disguise comes with a bigger risk of coming apart. Maybe clothes that make you look bulkier?

You any good with voices, or an accent?

Blacken your face with soot and get a big brush. Become the loveable chimneysweep.

fine, see if you can't get some sunglasses or something, maybe a jacket as well. and hell if we feel like getting creative we could always see if we could find some paint and give ourselves a fake tattoo.

I also think Itchy is starting to like you.

I think it's probably an easy job then. Maybe, depends on how hard you make it.
I mean honestly, how much fun is this compared to how fun it is out there? It's better to be out there, people think you're in here! Out there is where they least expect you.

Wow, you really accepted this?

Tin gave you this job because she's hoping someone who hates you will kill you while you wander from place to place and you won't be here problem anymore.

Hey, how about getting a pair of one-way mirrored completely eye covering goggles to hide your eye coloration? If anybody asks about them, say you have an unfortunate mutation that makes your eyes extremely light sensitive; Even a nearly dark room would be almost too bright to see in, and any more would risk permanently blinding you.

"So, is Jess gonna bite me before I leave or should I pencil that in for after I get back?" Hey, may as well go full throttle on sharing your charming personality with Mr. Irritable and see where it goes.

Hat looks good. Is there any sort of colored contacts that you might be able to use? With that no one would recognize you on sight.

Dark shades and large amounts of C-4(or what ever it is in AQ) oh and a steve shirt no one well know its you hok

Hok 2013/07/27(Sat)09:18 No. 528216 ID: d38f67
File 137494191256.png - (12.68KB , 700x700 , 751.png )

>Contacts
Of course! Something I bought thinking they would be useful, and have never used. Until now! They warp the apparent shape of the pupil too.

I also have this fine jacket for such an occasion.

>Any good with voices or an accent?
More like the best!

In fact, I suppose this would be a good time to change my skin color. I do, after all, have two layers of skin, and the second one is quite... greener. Unfortunately, revealing the latter requires shedding the former! It's quite horrific, actually, and I have come to call it my Self Defense Maneuver Number 4.

"Will Jess be giving me that bite soon, or shall I pencil it in?"
>"Stay right there."

It looks like SDM-4 might just see some use in the immediate future, for more than mere disguise and espionaging purposes.

Hmm. All right. Time to make our escape. Deployment. Whatever.

If you're going to attack yourself to one of the traders going out, you need a name and a story to go with your new look.

Who are you? What do you do? Where are you going?

Is SDM-4 horrific to you or to somebody witnessing it?

Anyway lets go find some traders and for a disguise you could claim to be a civil engineer named Pip. Nobody wants to mess with a person who is working on keeping the asteroid habitable for everyone.

other then being sneaky and shooting people what skills do you have? If we know that we can come up with a more believable cover story for you.

Sort of curious how this shedding thing works as self defense.

If it just changes your color then I guess do it now? But if it has some awesome secondary effect maybe save it for later?

Horrifying in the immediate wtf is happening sense, or horrifying in the "Let's pose the old skin as if we just evaporated from the inside out" sense?

>>528216
Yeah, show Jess your second skin.

1/3 Hok 2013/07/28(Sun)13:51 No. 528804 ID: d38f67
File 137504471450.png - (13.60KB , 700x700 , 752.png )

>Who are you? What do you do? Where are you going?
I am Pip, a civil engineer, in training, off of one of the latest civilian ship to crash on the asteroid. The Wispy Basilisk, I believe it was. Pretty good sized one, landed a year ago, and everyone scrambled off after it started getting raided. Not too many civilian ships land here! Mostly edge living pirates and the bounty hunters and law it brings. Of course, I do lack an ID, but not everyone demands to see something like that.

SDM-4 is horrific to others, and mildly painful to myself. Well, sometimes for others. I would not bother using it on my deadlier foes, but for Jessica, I believe it will work.

I hear a knock on the door.

>"Alright you little fucker let's get this over wi-"

2/3 Hok 2013/07/28(Sun)13:52 No. 528805 ID: d38f67
File 137504472550.png - (18.13KB , 700x700 , 753.png )

"AAAAAAA"
>"FUCKWHAT"

I think it's the awful, awful noises the shedding makes that adds to it.

3/3 Hok 2013/07/28(Sun)13:52 No. 528806 ID: d38f67
File 137504473641.png - (18.09KB , 700x700 , 754.png )

And now I will hop in the public showers because I am pretty nasty right now.

Although, I have the slight inkling that Tin will deduct my pay or some such if she finds me still inside of here inside of 30 minutes. But perhaps I should spend time searching the trade center for tools I can purchase using my own funds. I do own one pistol, but admittedly little else than the clothes on my back. I tend to lose things, after all. Otherwise, I will search for caravans, envoys, trucks and the likes to get on out of here in the direction I'm going.

I'd be more worried about Itcher deducting your pay at this point.

We probably don't need anything in the way of tools or such, we're just gathering some simple information.

Poor Jess. She's been through enough trauma.

>What do
Hmm. Does the lack of a shower make your disguise more or less believable? If Pip needs to be clean to fit in, do it.

What kind of tools could we use that could be useful? We have a weapon, so we need... sneaking stuff? The future equivalent of a set of lockpicks. And maybe a prop or two for your cover.

That was...

...

Disturbing. Very, very disturbing.

If you're a civil engineer, you should have some civil engineering stuff.

>>528806
Well, take a really quick shower then head over to the trade center. Move your ass!

Zip to the showers for a quick wash. Since you were clothed when you shed I'm guessing you need to strip anyway to peel the rest of your skin off, so you may as well shower too.

As for what to get at the trade center, pick up stuff that'll make you look like a civil engineer in training and that you're traveling. Pick up some extra clean clothes, toiletries, and a backpack or satchel to stick them in. Then buy a pocket multi-tool, an engineer's pocket reference book, and some kind of advanced calculator; Preferably all of them used so they're a bit worn looking. The last two could be combined into a pocket e-reader or similar if that's not much more expensive.

But if you don't have the cash, just get the multi-tool, since it'll be the most useful to you in the field. Still get the clothes and other stuff, since you might actually end up out long enough to want or need them.

shower first and then pick up some things so you can actually pass yourself off as a civil engineer and maybe some books or something that can teach you a few basics about engineering incase whatever caravan you hook up with actually wants you to fix something.

>>528867
Oh, almost forgot an important part of the disguise: pocket protector with engineer-y items. Put in miscellaneous writing implements, of course, but also slip in a few other things that could be useful out there, such as a high intensity LED penlight, penknife, or even a little scope, if it's cheap enough. Your lockpicks (if you have some) could also be hidden in amongst the junk or behind the pocket protector.

1/3 Hok 2013/08/10(Sat)13:50 No. 533306 ID: d38f67
File 137616784138.png - (18.33KB , 700x700 , 755.png )

Okay, I've got my BOX OF THIEVERY, containing various security bypass capabilities of both the physical and the digital. And my GUN with BULLETS inside of the GUN.

That's good enough for me! That and 1,000 spending zeny. I also buy a book of engineering equations or something or another so that I can look at it intently and pretend I'm learning. And by that, I mean I borrow it from Ben. And by that I mean I steal it. Judging from the layer of dust, the old man doesn't need it anywho. I grab one of our spare PDAs for notary as well, and call it good.

Once the shower's outta the way, I go talk to some caravans that are heading out.

The first one is a "military" band of individuals restocking and passing through They look like a paranoid ol' bunch, and'll probably keep me under a closer eye than I feel comfortable with. Good protection, though! They say they'll carry me around for 100z per sector traveled.

2/3 Hok 2013/08/10(Sat)13:51 No. 533307 ID: d38f67
File 137616786133.png - (12.65KB , 700x700 , 756.png )

Next up's a cagey bunch with cargo they don't like to explain. Probably a lot, because they've sure got the protection for it from what I see.

They say it'll be free if I ride in the backseat with a few kids to distract 'em. Sounds legit.

3/3 Hok 2013/08/10(Sat)13:52 No. 533308 ID: d38f67
File 137616793340.png - (14.87KB , 700x700 , 757.png )

Third one's an interesting case. This one owes a buddy a bike, but she had to come alone to pick it up, and needs someone else to drive it alongside her own bike back to her home. It's 3 sectors away, and he says he doesn't mind making some stops on the way, and'll pay me 200z to help him out.

Either way, figure it doesn't matter too much which sectors I go to, since I'm just out there to get word on what's going on more than what hearsay we get down here. If I remember right. Kinda vague mission that got pinned on me, here.

Paranoid military types seem more trouble than they're worth. We're just trying to get a finger on the pulse of current events.

The cargo mission is probably fine, and if there's anyone who can keep a bunch of kids amused it's you, but I'm feeling leery about unknown cargo after that last escort mission.

I kind of like the third one. Nice and open ended, doesn't attract much attention, and you have room to be flexible if we need it. In the worst case you could always run with a bike, but I see no reason to rip off our cover.

>>533308
Third mission would be best. Though with your luck that guy will turn out to be a lost Emperor on the run, pursued by familial Death Squads seeking to eliminate pretenders to the throne.

I like the bike lady. The other two would have more protection but we might get caught up in there inevitable drama.

Don't like the military types, to jumpy for my taste, group two doesn't SEEM to bad but after that one mission that just went down I'm a bit weary of any missions with unknow cargo, the third one I like best since you'll even be paid for it, asumming they don't try and kill you or something but it seems like all three of these missions have that risk to some degree

I think you should go for the one with the least chance of being called upon to do things that match your disguise. So I'd say the second one, since they're giving you something to do anyway that isn't that. Third one sounds like too much risk and obligation.

Anyway it seems to me like you'd be good with kids, right? Eh? Hok?

>>533311
No no, that's with Polo's or Itcher's luck.

With Hok's luck, he'd end up getting away scott free with the entire Imperial treasury after starting a civil war and turning the death squads on each other.

>>533308
i really like that last one. best excuse, least suspicion arousal, nothing worth stealing or being raided for. plus you get paid.

Go with the third option, but give the bike as thorough a inspection as you can before leaving. Don't want it konking out midway, whether by design or not.

You having trouble IDing the pomi's gender? 'Cause your pronouns flipped halfway through.

>Vague mission
You ever consider the possibility that Tin figures it's cheaper to keep you out on mission than the cost of dealing with the problems your loopy luck and "charming" personality would otherwise attract to the trade hub?

Guys, he's not Hok anymore, he's "Pip".

one lil problem with the third one: No escorts. no security at all. And the bikes themselves may be just valuable enough, compared to their apparent lack of defense, to warrant robbery attempts from petty thieves and bandits

>>533308
I think you should go with the second one.

Hok 2013/08/20(Tue)21:07 No. 536209 ID: d38f67
File 137705805780.png - (20.42KB , 700x700 , 758.png )

>You ever consider the possibility that Tin figures it's cheaper to keep you out on mission than the cost of dealing with the problems your loopy luck and "charming" personality would otherwise attract to the trade hub?
I've also considered it's more profitable for me for Tin to keep me on mission, too, so it's win-win!

>Anyway it seems to me like you'd be good with kids, right?
>Eh?
>Hok?
YEAAAAHhhhh I think I will go with the motorcycle.

"So, miss..." A closer, or at least frontal, reveals her to be female barring any biological surprises.
>"Yes?"
"Miss..."
>"Yes?"
"What is your name?"
>"Miss."
"Right, then, miss. I am Pip, at your service. Do we have any security besides whatever weapons we bring?"
>"You mean whatever I bring? Please give me all of your weapons, and I will give you mine."
"Uh... how do I know it's functional?"
>"It's perfectly functional, unless you try to shoot me. Isn't that right, Hit?" She's talking to her gun.
beep
>"That's right."
I get it. Hit and Miss. That's... this job got a little weird, and no one was surprised.
>"Where do you come from?"
"Anteros III, although I was on the Wispy Basilisk's voyage off to the Bolg system up until the Wispy Basilisk did its thing and crashed here. A drifter, since."
>"Most people settle down."
"Most people have skills in higher demand than civil engineering."
>"What about Iron Cove?"
"It's Iron Cove. Also halfway blown up."
>"Yes that is the idea."
"Oh, right. No I hear they have poor retirement plans."
>"Anyway I'd like to be going before my buddy sends out a rescue mission to see where I ran off to. If you accept the job, you accept the frisking and confiscating of weapons until the jobs over."

>>536209
Yeah, sure. Worst that happens is she steals your gun. Then again if she frisks you, you'll have to show her the box of thievery. Don't let her open it. It's small enough to be obviously not containing weapons.

...actually this seems a bit much for a simple bike ride.

... Well it's either this or the children

anyways, you know of any ways to hide your gun? cause if not then the only thing left for you to do if this turns south is to run like hell. Still say you should go with her, She sounds like someone that knows things... or is part of a bandit party. Either way you're bound to learn a thing or two on what the hell is going on around the trading hub which is the point of this whole mission in the first place.

>Hit and Miss
Cute. And a smart gun isn't a terrible idea, although hardly a foolproof one.

>frisking
...you're sneaky enough to keep the box of thievery from her, right? Otherwise, I don't see a reason not to accept.

Ok, there's no way she's taking your weapon from you. Make that clear right away. Be overt, show her all your weapons but make it clear that she's not taking any of them and the she should be grateful that her escort is armed.

Seriously, there's no reason she should want you unarmed unless this is a trap. Instead, tell her you are armed, and the you will remain armed for the duration of the trip. Whatever weapons you have on your personage take out (in a very nonthreatening manner), and show to her. If she makes trouble about the unarmed part then just refuse outright, and maybe point out that no one is so insane as to ride around unarmed on a lawless rock.

You'll accept, but only if Miss stays ahead of you the whole trip. You may be a damn lucky fool, but you won't just gonna willingly put yourself in a position to be shot in the back with your own gun.

If you're aren't totally certain you can hide your Box o' Thievery from her frisking, then you may as well show it to her, with the cover story that you're delivering it to the sector past where she's headed. She won't believe it for a second, but whether she keeps you on or kicks you out will say something.

And a smart gun, eh? How much you wanna bet it's smart enough to not shoot her, but not smart enough to not shoot her ride out from under her. Something to keep in mind to try if things go sideways out there.

>>536493
Lets not gamble with the gun's IFF system.

Make a show of pulling out your weapons, while you've got her looking at your weapons use your other hand to hide the box of thievery out of her field of view. After letting her get a hold of your weapons let her frisk away then you can hide your thievery box in your pocket when she turns away.

>>536209
Can she tell you why it's so important to take your weapons?
Hmm, well, maybe we can hold her weapon as collateral at least. Size it up, how valuable is it compared to your shit?

She can only frisk you if she buys you dinner first.

Hok 2013/08/24(Sat)11:31 No. 537093 ID: d38f67
File 137736909306.png - (15.39KB , 700x700 , 759.png )

Can't blame her too much here, wouldn't be the first time the 'escort' just led the cargo right on out, then stole it right off the bat. Plus, Pip doesn't exactly have an A+++++ escort rep as of yet, having only existed since shortly ago.

"I tell you what. If I let you keep my weapon, how about you stay ahead?"
>"Well yeah that's fine. Just stay in my rear view!"
"And if you frisk me, you've got to buy me dinner first!"
>"I'm in a hurry, I'll treat you to dinner once we're at where we're going. That fine?"
"That fine."

I reveal my weapons and she gives me the pats. The box of thievery remains my secret.

>"Good. Let's do it. By the way, we're going surface. And I'm not gonna entertain any bandit roadblocks. You're not a pansy, right, engineer? No small meteorites gonna scare you? Cause fuck proverbs that say a straight line isn't the fastest path."

say something like the asteroids still make you a bit nervous but you're more or less use to them so unless one hits you you'll be fine.

>not a pansy
>a straight line isn't the fastest path
Falling rocks aren't going to bother me, and I'm well past the strait lines school of design.

>>537093
Tell her you've served in combat zones before so you'll be fine.

>>537126
we're being Pip now, not Hok. Pip was an engineer student who crashed here about a year ago on board a civilian ship.

You like your odds with the meteorites quite a bit more than your odds with bandits, and as a civil engineer you're all about making and taking the straightest line from point A to point B, transit-wise. So, yeah, you're no pansy.

Remember to check the fuel level in the bike and how many shots are in Hit before heading out. It's an unfamiliar gun, so it'll be vital to know that if you get into a firefight.

1/2 Hok 2013/08/24(Sat)18:19 No. 537202 ID: d38f67
File 137739357349.png - (42.01KB , 700x700 , 760.png )

"I'm no pansy! I will have you know that I've crash landed here a whole year ago, assisted in combat situations, and know the statistical improbabilities of getting struck by a small rock during a multi hour run!" I'm a pretty good liar, I have no idea what it is. Too small a detail to worry about now, though!
>"Good. Let's go."

She gives me her AI gun, which according to the "ammometer" has 40 laser shots remaining. The fuel gauge on my bike reports full. Assuming technology isn't lying to me, it is good to go! So we go. I see some bandits at their road stops, and I can swear they're taking bets on whether we get struck by falling rocks or not.

But she has a point, the trip seems to go by a lot faster while moving in a more or less straight line without having to stop for bandits every three minutes! The fact that we aren't carting big boxes in trucks labeled "Not Weapons from the Future" helps, I'm sure.

2/2 Hok 2013/08/24(Sat)18:19 No. 537203 ID: d38f67
File 137739358049.png - (45.36KB , 700x700 , 761.png )

>"Fuck."

Oh. So goes that luck. Confirming my betting suspicions, I hear bandit cheers from the distance.

>>537203
Pray you aren't dissolved by the shockwaves of such a close impact.

Oh, hit by a falling rock? Good thing your luck is better than hers.

Assuming the bandits are just being jerks, and not actually attacking, you should probably check if she's alright. If he arm's broken, it might need to be set or something. And we might have to jury rig something to make steering with only one good arm doable.

Pomi don't have any kind of regeneration, right? Just normal, slow healing.

If the bandits are attacking, it's time to do some fancy shooting from your motorbike. She's in no position to return fire with one arm as you guys run.

>>537203
Well go be a gentleman and help her out. Ask her if she's okay to drive or what.

Huh, well that sucks. You should probably go help her since she is paying you

If it looks like she's gonna lose control, and you think you can make it up fast enough to grab the handlebars and straighten her out in time, gun the engine and do so. Otherwise get out of the way so you don't risk getting tangled up with her or her bike when she loses it.

But if she does keep control, then pull up next to her and ask how badly she was injured while getting a look at where she was hit. You two may have to stop at the next alcove in the rocks to treat her, or even have to resort to leaning the bikes against a rock to make makeshift cover.

>>537203
is she alive? dead people can't pay you

>>537204
>>537203
Operation "Save crazy lizard tits" is go
get her to pull over under cover so we can assess the damage. Dont do so immediately however, what with the bandits and all. Try and pull over a few miles ahead out of range of them.
With a meteorite of that size, she could very well have a massive chunk of her body currently not in her. It honestly depends on how fast it was traveling.

Hok 2013/08/25(Sun)12:29 No. 537431 ID: d38f67
File 137745894338.png - (41.83KB , 700x700 , 762.png )

She doesn't catch her balance, but the ground... well, not gonna lie, it's not soft sand, but we were only able to go so fast anyway going up and down rocky terrain.

The bandit's don't look like they're attacking, they're staying put. Not gonna take advantage of us, but sure not gonna help us out either. Fine by me, I say.

"Hey, you okay?"
>"Yeah. Been fuckin' rainy lately. Just got a broke shoulder is all. Patch me up and I'll drive one handed, no prob."
"Yeah I will but you know, we're still right out in the open, and if you could just move a little."
>"I can move a lot, just help me set the bone already!" Pomi have decent healing speed, but they don't regrow limbs or heal bones right if they're not set right, so it does need that good medicinal touch. "You said you know the statistical probability of getting hit, right?"
Oh, I did. I don't actually. "Yeah, I once stuck a person sized dummy out here, it got struck about once every two days. Doesn't vary much where you are on the asteroid"
>"Cool, so the chances of it happening are slim to none, got it. Patch me up."

Hey, she's pretty blasé about all this, ain't she. I like that. Fits right in with you, actually.

Well, patch her up. Unless there's a meteor storm, your odds aren't any worse than usual.

>Cool, so the chances of it happening are slim to none
...actually prior outcomes don't alter the odds in your favor, any. Statistics is based on averages. You're just as likely to get hit now as you were before.

patch her up and tell her not to say things like that unless she jinxes us. How good are you a patching up people by the way? and of those of different races?

>>537434
Yeah, but "once in two days" is still slim to none, even when you ignore the previous strike. Let's hope Hok's claim is actually true or close to it.

Patch her up best as you can, I suppose.

>>537431
I think she's flirting with you. Dat pose and eyes man.

Ask her if she has any medical experience. You're pretty good with healing yourself in a sitch, but Pomi, while very similar are also very different. Give us a step by step. Oh and where are the supplies for this patch up? Keep an eye out, we're still a little vulnerable. One eye looking at all times, and we have to focus on the wound.

>Yeah, I once stuck a person sized dummy out here, it got struck about once every two days.
This is a good story to tell, since if more rocks come down you can say that there might have been a few flaws in your experimental methodology now that you think about it.

Say it's not actually the meteorites you're worried about; It's the bandits. You'd rather not be out in the open if a bandit sniper gets the bright idea to win a motorcycle by popping one of our heads. So moving down into a hollow or behind a rock before working on her shoulder would make you feel much safer.

Gather what medical supplies are available and tell Miss that she's going to have to talk you through this 'cause you've never set a broken shoulder before. But you do know from the that time you broke your shoulder (because you're Hok and that has to have happened to you) that the arm should be immobilized afterwards so the bones don't shift until they knit; Especially since she's gonna be riding over bumpy terrain. There's likely no sling, so you'll have to improvise with medical tape and cloth cut from both your clothing, then tie her arm to her midsection to immobilize it.

Comment that she's taking the pain from this surprisingly well. If it was you, you know you wouldn't be taking it anywhere near as well.

1/3 Hok 2013/08/26(Mon)18:38 No. 537835 ID: d38f67
File 137756751518.png - (38.12KB , 700x700 , 763.png )

>How good are you a patching up people by the way?
I'm pretty good with belenos, pomi and humans. Pretty samey healwise, long as you don't do some weird medicine that might be poisonous to one but not another. Same medicine practices as yich eaters actually, cept they get touchy in some spots. Mikliks set themselves right if they live past the initial trauma, most of the time, and neumono, well, I just stick an alcohol wipe on 'em and call it good. Anyway, I'll just apply what I know to Pomi, and figure she'll stop me if I'm doing something wrong.

>I think she's flirting with you.
Welllll I sure hope not for either of our sakes!

"Statistics don't quite work like that!" I get those microexpressions that tell of eyes that will glaze over if I go any more in depth, so I get to the doctoring. "Keep an eye out for bandits, if you will."
>"Yep, they're just watchin from over yonder. For a civil engineer, you know how to deal with this."
"I've been part time since crashlanding. You know, for a mortal, you know how to deal with a broken shoulder."
>"Ha. It happens."

kik

>"Dang, that rock was close. Maybe you were right."

2/3 Hok 2013/08/26(Mon)18:38 No. 537836 ID: d38f67
File 137756752384.png - (40.06KB , 700x700 , 764.png )

krack

3/3 Hok 2013/08/26(Mon)18:44 No. 537839 ID: d38f67
File 137756787020.png - (35.10KB , 700x700 , 765.png )

BOOM

>"... Well that takes care of our pickpocketing peepers. Two days, you said?"
"There might have been a few flaws in my experimental method, now that I think about it."
>"Nah, I'm kidding, man. It's raining up there."

Huh. Did we luck into a stretch of bad asteroid-weather? Unfortunate. Although more unfortunate for that sheep and fuzzball over there.

...actually, if we think they're dead, we could go and loot them. Although pissing off bandits ain't a good idea for your cover, and a neumono could probably survive being thrown like that. And I don't really want to much around for bloody equipment if the sky's acting up.

Let's just move on, maybe aim for an area with better shade.

>>537839
I think we'd better find some cover ASAP, because you do not want to be out in the open during a meteor shower like this. Fuck looting the bandits, that'll get you killed, either by a meteorite or other bandits finding you looting them.

Look up and comment that those two days was an average, and that you did have to replace the dummy more than once.

Setting Miss' shoulder is going to have to be postponed. The both of you get on your motorcycles and get to the nearest substantial cover that isn't bandit-filled ASAP.

Um, can't you predict the stone rain to some degree by looking upwards?

I say set her shoulder quick and then get back on the bikes and get the hell out of here before another big one lands closer to you.

>>537887
>Um, can't you predict the stone rain to some degree by looking upwards?
Those things are falling at terminal velocity!
You'd need a dozen AI-equipped uni-directional LIDAR dishes setup as an ad-hoc VLA to give yourself a second of warning!

Hok 2013/08/27(Tue)18:36 No. 538027 ID: d38f67
File 137765380525.png - (24.70KB , 700x700 , 766.png )

"As much as I enjoy looting the recently deceased in a display of blatant selfishness, let's get to cover in the nearest un-bandit-infested shade zone."
>"Yeah."

>Can't you predict the stone rain to some degree by looking upwards?
Not even close! I could only see the big ones until it's too late, and even then, it's the biggest pain to tell where a big one is going to land when you're right below it.

One trip to the roadway later, Miss is slinged up and ready to drive apparently. She keeps on leading, so it's up to me to watch our back.

"Hey, so, I'm watching our back."
>"What, were you going to watch just mine?"
"Yeah that's what I said."
>"I mea... it was a joke. What of it?"
"There's a pretty big caravan of Black Supernova coming up pretty fast."
>"How big's pretty big?"
"Few tanks. More cars. Several motorcycles here and there.

>Black Supernova
Oh. Well, they're sort of friendly with Pilon's guys. Which might extend to the trade hub. Which might extend to you? ...yeah, sort-of friends twice removed ain't something to rely on. Especially with you in disguise.

I think our best bet is to pull out of sight somewhere, and watch them go by. Assuming they aren't already chasing you / haven't already made you, I like avoiding the problem better than running and hoping you stay in front.

are they coming at you or just in your direction? Either way just follow Miss's lead but hey it looks like we might be able to get some information after all about what's going on outside of the trading hub. Tin did say she wanted information on the Black Nova.

>>538027
Wait for a really big meteor to fly down and kill half of them. Loot the ones they leave behind. With your luck when rubble from the explosion blocks the tunnel, there will be cool loot in it!
>>537915
Eh, it'd be easier just to inject one fuckton of Nanomachines(TM) into some guy and have him shrug off the meteors.

Now would be a good time to ask if she knows what a bunch of Supernova would be doing around here. We hear they are a major pirate organization after all.

Keep out of sight until they pass by. Hopefully they don't feel like going out of there way to hassle two random people on bikes. If they do though play it by ear.

>>538027
>"What, were you going to watch just mine?"
Yeah, okay, she's definitely flirting.

Just hide better? Be like a dot on their map, blend the fuck in. Something tells me they got bigger fish to fry than either of your sorry asses.

Yep, she's flirting. No graceful way to tell her to hold off on it at the moment, but when there is, politely tell her that you don't want to flirt on the mission and that you're currently neuter.

The last time I checked, which was admittedly in Thread 1, Hok was genderless. If this is incorrect, ignore the relevant clause.

Say that the Black Supernova doesn't have a beef with you, as far as you know, and ask Miss if they have any with her. 'Cause if they do, pretty much all you can do is gun it and speed away as fast as you can.

If you can see them, they can see you, so attempting to hide now will just be stupidly suspicious. But I'm not comfortable just pulling to the side of the road to let them pass, 'cause if they do decide to take issue with you two you're rather closer than you'd like to be.

So go off-road. Swing around and come back to the road behind the caravan. Then you can travel in their wake, if they don't object. And being behind their caravan would clear away any bandit trouble ahead of you, until they head off the path you want to take.

Hey, how come you two aren't wearing helmets and riding leathers? Or pinning your tails up so they don't accidentally get caught in a wheel? Just felt like livin' dangerously?

>>538054
I'm pretty sure he doesn't have any parts grown at the moment? I got the impression from his ITQ answers that a lot of miklik don't bother to actually assume a gender much of the time.

I think the correct response to any flirting is to ignore it, for the moment.

>If you can see them, they can see you
Not necessarily. Their convoy is a lot bigger and eye-catching than ours, and we don't know the composition of the asteroid, here. If we're not kicking up much dust and they just came into view, it's not unreasonable we've seen them before they've made us. They have to search the whole field of view in detail, we just have to look back and see a convoy.

>>538027
did they spot you? hide if they didn't, flee if they did.

also she's totally flirting with you.

1/3 Hok 2013/09/21(Sat)20:14 No. 541470 ID: d38f67
File 137981966579.png - (18.45KB , 700x700 , 767.png )

>She's flirting
And I've no idea how to deal with this! I was never good with the ladies. Aliens. Alien ladies. Or guys.

>"Hey, you don't have any outstanding issues with those guys, do you?"
"Nnnope. Let's go hide anyway! They look like they've got bigger fish to fry. Wait, do you?"
>"MMmmmmmm"

2/3 Hok 2013/09/21(Sat)20:14 No. 541471 ID: d38f67
File 137981969084.png - (15.87KB , 700x700 , 768.png )

>"ayyyyyybbeeeee?"

>>Hey, how come you two aren't wearing helmets and riding leathers? Or pinning your tails up so they don't accidentally get caught in a wheel? Just felt like livin' dangerously?
Nooot a whole lot of supply in non-combat safety gear. We're just holding up our tails anyway. Now, speaking for myself, I'm certainly not feeling like living dangerously, but, Miss...

>"You know, I think it depends on just how much they buy into that 'guilt by association bit.' No biggie, anyway! They're pretty cool. See? They're moving right by us."
"Yeah but you're kinda sticking out there, might wanna.... nevermind."

3/3 Hok 2013/09/21(Sat)20:15 No. 541473 ID: d38f67
File 137981971733.png - (59.62KB , 700x700 , 769.png )

A motorcyclist reverses back into our field of view, and vice versa.

>"Hey. 'Miss'. You owe us some damages, yeah? Feel like paying up?" he says.
>"Hey Pip you wanna wait outside for a minute? It's pretty private stuff, real classified inf-"
>"Miss supplied chocolate that her partner put in our engine. Wouldn't've been a big deal, kinda funny, but the kicker's that our driver was real allergic to the stuff. He's in good shape now, unlike our vehicle. Scratch paid up her half, Miss, so how about you?"

>>541473
Well, the trade hub has ties with Black Supernova. We could arrange to have her debt paid by the trade hub in exchange for her now being in debt to us. However, she would have to be useful to us. So ask her if she likes that plan.

>>541475
since she is clearly the right amount of crazy to even show a passing amount of interest in hok, I am fully in support of plan Debt-for-date
which is to say
the plan I came up with just now

>We could arrange to have her debt paid by the trade hub in exchange for her now being in debt to us

With interest.

We're running a business, you know.

Well. How much of a debt are we talking here? She either pays, or we try to weasel out of it, or we run or fight.

...frankly, this seems a good moment for bullshitting. They're really gonna hold her accountable? You can hardly hold every seller accountable for what the idiots who buy their stuff do with it. How could she possibly know she'd be making enemies with chocolate?

>>541475
...that would require blowing our cover. We'd be costing the (broke) trade hub without bringing in anything useful. It also requires people trusting Hok's word.

Overall, bad plan.

>>541481
Hok can still claim to be Pip.

>>541473
Can he take off his helmet? What if that motorcyclist is actually her old partner in disguise? Or he's just claiming to be the part of the group that has damages?

>>541483
Putting the trade hub on the line for someone else's debt for no return is still a bad idea.

Dang, how much chocolate has to be placed on an engine to mess it up by melting? 'Cause that sounds like it'd have to be a lot. Well, unless it was stuffed in the air intake on the engine side of the filter or something.

So, just how much does Miss owe them anyway? Must not be much 'cause they're being pretty chill about it.

Ask how they know Miss knew Scratch was gonna use the chocolate that way. Because if they don't know than she really shouldn't be held responsible for half the damages from what Scratch did. Of course if they don't know the guy almost certainly won't relent before your logic, but it's worth a try.

>Flirting
Better hope she just harmlessly flirts with everyone and doesn't mean anything by it, 'cause otherwise she's actually interested in you.

>"Miss supplied chocolate that her partner put in our engine."
I like this gal already.

Offer to pay it off in exchange for a debt to you and your place.

Also, make sure you have quick access to your pistol

>Dang, how much chocolate has to be placed on an engine to mess it up by melting?
Some quick *google-fu*: "Any sort of gritty substance put into a fuel tank is going to have an adverse effect on the car's performance. Salt and sugar are probably the most effective," (the question being posed was for the viability of a prank) "since they do not dissolve in the gas."

... From the later descriptions here, I'm suddenly dubious it wasn't a big deal. =/ it's apparently expensive to fix if it gets into your carbouerator or fuel injectors... and to get to those it has to get through your filters and fuel pump.

don't think we should try and cover the debt using the trading hub since that miiiight rise a few questions we don't want to answer.

Oh and since there's a black supernova guy here maybe you could ask him if there's anything of interest he's heard about lately. I mean we are out here to get information and Tin did say specifically to get some about the Supernovas. Just ask if he's heard of anything of interest. I mean them and Zozu were just in a war I don't think it would be to suspicious if we asked about any areas we should avoid if we don't want to get hit in some cross fire (then hit them on the way back to the hub to see what we can learn about them)

>Miss was partnered up with someone called Scratch.
What she couldn't find someone called Itch?

Anyway if he demands a vehicle for payment remember that these are our bikes, we are just lending one to Miss because we are going on a date.

1/3 Hok 2013/09/22(Sun)10:21 No. 541567 ID: d38f67
File 137987048684.png - (13.37KB , 700x700 , 770.png )

"Scratch? Couldn't find someone named itch?"
>"No, her gu- wait, itch? Oh, man, I'm gonna have to tell her that one, that's good. Her gun is called Sniff, actually."
"And she put chocolate in the engine, huh?"
>"Yeah. Er, no. Not in the engine, just on it and places where it would smell up the rest of the car. It was fine! But like he said, the driver was allergic, so he crashed it up pretty quick!"
"How much do you owe?"
>"20 thousands zeny, that's my share."

The motorcyclist honks his horn.

>"Hey you two, I'm still here, and my envoy's dust is settling. Summon up the zen, miss."
"Now hold on, is it Miss's fault what someone does with chocolate? It's chocolate!"
>"Let me look... here... catch, hit play."

He tosses a whatsit over to me. He sure does have faith in my catching abilities.

2/3 Hok 2013/09/22(Sun)10:37 No. 541571 ID: d38f67
File 137987146374.png - (23.30KB , 700x700 , 771.png )

Well what do you know, security footage.

She sure is at the crime of the scene. She sure is egging on Scratch. Yep. Actually, scratch looks a little familiar. Eh, probably saw her in passing once upon a time. Belenos, too. That rules out the chance that this supernova fellow is Scratch in disguise. I mean, unless she went through some real heavy lengths for a one off thing.

>"Yeahhh I said the same thing but then they pulled that out on me. It's kinda hard to argue with that. I mean, the damn thing looks like it came out of a commercial! Okay, supernova dude, I need more time! No, really, I don't have much zeny on me, I wasn't planning on seeing you guys." says Miss.
>"We aren't Zozu, but we're not gonna let a 20k debt just stand there indefinitely. Don't make us act like Zozu, we've had enough of 'em."
>"Hey, you guys know how to find me. I'm not as hidden as I'd like."
>"That's not reassuring."

3/3 Hok 2013/09/22(Sun)10:37 No. 541572 ID: d38f67
File 137987147840.png - (20.07KB , 700x700 , 772.png )

"Hey, do you guys have any interesting news or something?"
>"What?"
"You know. What's the haps. The happenings. What's goin' on up in here. You guys were rushing off pretty fast over there."
>"Who are you, anyway?"
"Pip."
>"How long've you been on the asteroid."
"A year?"
>"You're a slow learner, asking questions like that."
"What questions should I be asking?"
>"None. Don't ask questions. In fact, shut up. Miss -"
>"Yeah yeah I'll get the money! Heyyyyyy Pip you want another job?" She puts on some Pomi eyes. She's gonna ask something preeeetttyyy hefty of me, I know it. "It involves talking to people! Important people! And you're pretty good at talking. Or at least you look like you've got a lot of words tucked away in there, and that's good enough."

>>541572
"One of those words is 'no'. Getting any other words out costs zeny, and you just admitted you don't have any."

should have known it wouldn't been that easy, sigh

as for miss... whaaat do you want?

...talking to who? One thing I have learned is not agreeing to something in advance.

Give Miss your best I-wasn't-uprooted-yesterday look. "I might. After I ask every question I can think of about the job. And if the pay is big enough. Maybe." Suggest to Miss that you two continue this conversation in a diner at the next settlement along your route.

Lob the video player whatsit back to the Black Supernova guy and ask if the convoy will mind you two riding in their wake until you hit your turnoff. It'll be good to keep the bandits off.

You saw the vehicle that crashed in that security footage. Is 40,000 zeny in line with what major repairs or a replacement vehicle of that type would cost?

>>541572
Tin told us to find some talent out in the field if we could =/ We could try recruiting her in exchange for payment or something?

>>541961
The important bit there is "talent". Her sole talent seems to be being a female pomi version of Hok.

You're not dressed well enough to go talking to important people, you better have some dapper gear.

>>541961
Recruitment isn't entirely our of the question, but Hok's known her for like an hour or less. And if we were to actually recruit her I wouldn't trust her to stay quiet about it for more than 5 minutes, which kind of messes with Hok's cover.

We'll consider it closer to the end of this bike trip, assuming she hasn't managed to get herself killed or double cross us by then.

>>542004
Hey, they keep Hok on despite his bounty, don't they? People like Hok are useful.

>>542022
...Fair and/or true enough.

>>542047
One is. Two, not so much.

Hok 2013/09/25(Wed)21:37 No. 542142 ID: d38f67
File 138017025897.png - (19.91KB , 700x700 , 773.png )

>Is 40,000 zeny in line with what major repairs or a replacement vehicle of that type would cost?
IIII could believe it. Wouldn't surprise me if the supernova put on a little 'inconvenience' buffer, but hey, far as these things go, 40k isn't... well, okay, no, that is a teensy bit much. Not like either of us are in the position to argue something like that, though! In fact, that's usually a good way to get them to decide it should be more somehow.

>We could try recruiting her in exchange for payment or something?
A thought I'll reserve for future-me.

I toss the electronic what'sit back to the supernova fellow.

"Words cost money, Miss! Probably a lot. In fact, getting mystery jobs for mystery pay isn't good business sense at all!"
>"Come onnn, we're buds!"
"And good best buds share details."
>"Hm. Okay, yeah, that's a good point. Okay, huddle-time. Supernova, please move on over there, it's a private chat! Okay, Pip. I know guys. A lot of guys. Rich ones, with nice operations that need 'employees that don't exist' if you catch my drift. I think I can get us a job. A good one! We can split the dosh."

>She's like a female pomi version of you
Yeahhh I don't see it. I don't wrap my arms around people.

"So what do you need me for?"
>"Welllll, sometimes they give me jobs, sure, because I'm good at it. But at the same time, they don't actually like talking to me too much, so it would be cool if someone else was my spokesman to convince them to let me - or us - take a job! It'll be easy, because, well, you're not me."

>>542142
Oh fine.

>>542142
She's you in the sense that she has a knack for ticking people off and getting up to all sorts of mischief.
She's not like you in that she's a far more traditional rogue who flirts a lot and tries to get in some good old fashioned conquests.

She clearly aspires to be like one of those serial sci-fi anti-heroes and is damn good at being one.
You aspire to be... you. You just end up being like a really lucky, unlucky rogue. I don't know you just stumble into the role. Stumble fucking everywhere.

Say okay.
Good dosh is good dosh. And if she's as much like you as we think, she's only omitting a lot of details here but not really wanting to stab you in the back.

>Yeahhh I don't see it. I don't wrap my arms around people.
She's a slightly different kind of rogue. You worm your way into people's hearts with more gesticulating, grand fast talking speeches and mock-hurt feelings. She does more throwing around a lot of words without saying anything and an assumed almost pushy casual intimacy in interactions, and presumptions. You both end coming across as insufferable or incorrigible, surprisingly persuasive, causing trouble for whoever comes across you, and seem to have no worries about the mayhem and mischief you cause or participate in.

>Go for it?
If there's one thing you're good at, it's talking your way into (and sometimes out of) a sticky situation. She's probably right you could score a deal with whoever she's thinking of working with.

And hey, nothing wrong with more money, right? And doing something secret seems a good way to find out stuff no one would otherwise know about. That's kind of what Tin sent you to do, right?

And if the pay is bad, or the info is boring you could always just steal something.

quick question, if they don't like to talk to her why don't they just send her a message about jobs or something, hell a text or a dead drop if they're paranoid.

But still I think we should go with it for no other reason then we need information about the outside world and even if this is nothing but a disaster waiting to happen I figure if we get into enough trouble we'll learn something eventually right?

Hey, money off the books of the hub. I'm for it, but it might be better to get the other bike first, in case things go sour. More bikes, more chance of at least one surviving to make a hasty get away if needed.

I think she is planning on you being her fall guy in this plan so that in the end she drives away with all the money and you get all the blame.
So go along and act like a sucker but be ready to turn the tables on her when the time is right.

>>542163
This is probably the case. Remember Whiskers and Itcher, everyone? Even if her goal isn't actually to screw us over, we're unlikely to come out ahead.

Stick to the plan.

You're supposed to be a civil engineer from a downed ship. Anything that indicates that you're a scoundrel - including palling up with a scoundrel - risks blowing your cover, and outing you as the kind of person people don't tell the truth around. On top of that, adding extra mission objectives significantly complicates what was supposed to be a simple job.

Your new Pomi friend is in a bit of a pickle, yes. Opportunity is in the wind, yes. But even if you want to go for it, there's no requirement to go for it today. Ask her for some time to think it over, finish the job, and then you can come back and be a fishy Pomi's talent agent if that's what floats your boat.

>>542163
>>542172
You're saying this like that's at all a problem for Hok.

>>542179
It is if it makes Tin decide she's had enough of Hok's shit for good.

The job's not for you, Pip. But luckily, you know a guy names 'Hok' who might be interested, that you'd happily put Miss in contact with...

Yeah, this sounds a lot like Miss burned all her bridges with her best employers so she needs you as a middleman. You'd basically be taking her place at the interview, saying you've got her skill-set on the proverbial resumé, and faking your way through. Then she'd do the job and you'd turn it in.

At least, that's the way it'll go until the job involves bringing back something really valuable. Then she'll disappear with it and leave you to take the fall. But you figured that already, and you know you can turn the tables on her or vanish yourself if you fail.

You'll agree to it, but say that you think you two ought to finish this delivery job first. Mostly because Miss isn't going to be in any shape to do jobs until her shoulder heals, and that's gonna take time or money for medical care and we're low on money.

1/2 Hok 2013/09/26(Thu)19:53 No. 542271 ID: d38f67
File 138025041383.png - (18.70KB , 700x700 , 774.png )

"We do have this job first, you know."
>"Yeahh, well I mean after. I'll pay for your trip and everything!"
"I'llll think about it. After the current job's done. I gotta ask though, if they don't like talking to you, then why don't they send you messages or drops or whatever?"
>"You're the best! Yeah, we'll go deliver this bike and then I'll pay you, then we'll have this conversation again. Oh, and I don't like letting myself be contacted whenever if I can't contact them whenever, so drops or texts just don't do it for me."
"Alright, hey, supernova guy, can we tail beh... oh, he's gone."

2/2 Hok 2013/09/26(Thu)19:53 No. 542272 ID: d38f67
File 138025042569.png - (24.05KB , 1240x607 , 775.png )

Just as well, the rest of the trip goes smooth as can be. We enter an outpost and drive down a few levels, where it looks like some doors are embedded right on the street. We hop off, Miss knocks on the door, and yep, preettty sure I've seen Scratch before.

>"Heya, Scratch! Got a broken arm, huh!" Miss punches her on the shoulder. Which is cool, then Scratch does the same. Which would be cool, cept it was right on the broken shoulder. I guess their hellos just can't be stopped.
>"Yo, girl. Got my bike?"
>"Yeah, warmed up with miklik butt. Say, think all of us could go see Waska?"
>"That depends, how much money're you packing?"
>"He's gambling down under with his pals, isn't he? Well, I do have a few grand I can spare."
>"So you have a few grand total! Yeah, I can get you in, if you don't mind getting cleaned out. Uh, your pal, though... she cool?"
>"The coolest."
>"She's got money tucked away, too? I can get you in, but the more you got, the longer you can stay."

Well, I've got... a thousand. And not a bad gambler, if I do say so myself!

>>542272
I suspect that Waska either cheats, takes it very badly if he starts losing, or both. You are likely to lose your money.

Admit to having a couple of hundred.

THINK, man. Where have you seen this scratch chick before? Think HARD. Knowing you this is one of the myriad billions of people/aliens/animals you have pissed off in some way in the past, so start along the list of female belenosians who would want your head on a platter.
If she's not there, try the males.

>>542279
Then try the neumono.

We're one of the girls now? Ambiguous miklik-ness working in our favor, I guess.

>gambling
You've got a few hundred (hold back some of your cash).

>getting cleaned out
That because miss is bad, Waska is good, or because winning against Waska is a bad idea?

You're asking this to try and figure out how to play. If it's safe to win, there's nothing wrong with breaking even, or making yourself a small profit. If it's not safe to win, sacrificing some money to get an in with the criminals is acceptable. Standing out and cleaning them out probably isn't a good idea.

>yep, preettty sure I've seen Scratch before
In what circumstances? You tend to leave more enemies than friends, remember.

>>542272
Ask why they suddenly started referring to yourself as a woman. You're both! And you have a masculine name, kinda. Not that it matters.

Do it, we're bored anyway. But the amount of funds you got on you is your business.

>>542286
Nah, don't call them on the pronoun. We're trying to fit in, blend here. It works better if we just let people see us as whatever makes them comfortable with us. And it's not like Hok particularly cares (I think).

...that and a miklik getting picky about gender identity would probably stand out.

>>542286
It really doesn't matter, especially since Hok isn't both. He's neither.

I was just curious, got a little used to masculine pronouns for Hok/Pip so when they switch over you just notice it for a little bit.
Obviously no big deal, just an eyebrow goes "what" when your trying to figure out who they're referring to and then your like "Oh they're talking about me." Just a little confusion and curiosity.

>>542286
>>542288
assumption or no, this is a good thing. She's simply picked a pronoun and didn't ask questions. The recognition is one-way for now.

1/2 Hok 2013/09/26(Thu)22:56 No. 542314 ID: d38f67
File 138026139126.png - (15.85KB , 700x700 , 776.png )

>Think! Where have you seen this scratch chick before?
>So start along the list of female belenosians
Oh yeah, the list. The list of People That Want To Kill Me, and eventually became the book. Might look up Waska too actually, but pretty sure I've only heard about that guy. If he's pissed at me, I sure don't know it. Good thing I don't leave home without the book.

Although Scratch thinks I'm a girl, and Miss is apparently playing along, I sure don't care. Pip's a girl now I guess.
"Let me check..." I open up my back and flip through my book. "Yeah I've got a few hundred. Why's it sounding like a guarantee that Waska will clean us out? He doesn't go and cheat, does he?"
>"Not according to the rulebook." Miss says. "Buuut no one actually knows how to play. I mean, not really."
The rules sound simple, so people think they get it, but then there's all these edge cases that just make the game completely incomprehensible. Well, a few people know the fancy stuff. Waska obviously. Scratch does to-
>"That's a secret, Miss, shut it, goddamn."
>"Er, sorry! Anyways, you didn't hear that. Waska has the rulebook. He's legitimate, and doesn't make up rules in his favor even though it totally sounds like he does."

Scrapdice. Yep. A game that appears incomprehensable from the outside in. Then the rules make it sound easy. Then you play and it all goes downhill. That kinda rings a bell. In fact, I might know who Waska is. Gotta play along ala Pip now though.

"What's it called?"
>"Scrapdice." Scratch takes over. "It's Waska's way of charging to talk to him without actually saying you have to pay to talk to him. You just hope you last long enough with the basic ruleset."
"And people just don't learn how to play?"
>"Waska doesn't run open classes. And the ones that do know keep their mouths shut about it, that's why Miss isn't supposed to go shouting that I know how to play. Waska loves gambling, really chills him out. That's why people chalk up the dough to play the game and talk to him. He also loves winning too, but don't get the wrong idea, while he loves cleaning people out, he also likes actual competition now and then. So if you manage to get lucky has hell and take some of his money, it's cool. Now come on in, Waska's not actually gonna start for a while. I'll share some booze, on your behalf, since I at least have a chance of coming out even tonight. Miss, give the miklik some money, I'll teach her how to play, but she's still probably gonna last about 30 seconds if she goes in with a few hundred. Hell, if she's a natural like some mikliks I know, we may just come out ahead tonight."

2/2 Hok 2013/09/26(Thu)22:59 No. 542315 ID: d38f67
File 138026154044.png - (13.10KB , 700x700 , 777.png )

Miss and Scratch go talk girltalk in a side room for a minute while I'm left on the couch, so I grab my bag of mostly junk and let the book surface up to the top. And there she is, right in my list of enemies.

>Scratch - Female Belenos (Circle horn decorations, black eyes) - I took her money by pretending not to know how to play Scratchdice, goaded her into a bold move, and pulled the rug from under her. Threat: Might not actually want to kill me, but I did withdraw her whole bank account.

And yeah okay, I remember now. That was when a casino was gonna do a special scrapdice tournament, so I stole the only rulebook I could find and successfully returned it when I was done. It was prooobably Waska's. He's not here in my book.

>"Alright! Pip, was it?" I hear Scratch from the other room. "Get in here, I'm gonna teach you. I've got a real nice feeling about tonight."

oh, who cares than.
Get to playing. Play sucky at first but get a knack later, but not too good. Though you might actually need the rulebook to justify that. Just keep it somewhat consistent with what she'll teach you. Don't spout rules you know by hand you haven't been taught by her. Let some shit slip here and there and hope luck will get you through some.

Unless she actually has the rulebook on hand, than we can justify pretty much anything.

I dunno homebro you're the sly expert. You got ideas?

...is that book written in code, or inaccessible to be opened or anything? Seems like it would be bad if anyone got ahold of it.

Anyways, first thing to try and do is not give away who you are to Scratch. Emptying a bank account leaves a grudge. For now, take the lessons. Play as is you don't know the game, but you are good at gambling. Assuming of course they haven't made you already and you're walking into an ambush in the other room. (If worse come to worse- Miss' gun is hard coded not to shoot at her. But not Scratch).

Trying to make some money at Waska's game isn't a bad idea, although I'm not sure we want to risk trying to win big. (Or playing a rule we were never 'taught'). Maybe if there's enough money in it, but getting a piece of whatever this secret job Miss wants in on and Waska wants kept hush hush might be more valuable.

...actually, the game is kind of a good opportunity to fuck with everybody. You know the rules better than you're supposed to- you can mess with them winning hands when they think you shouldn't, or blowing hands they think your could win. Keep them guessing, make them think it's luck. That should be challenge enough to amuse you.

>>542315
Hmm, interesting. You know, if you make enough money tonight and pull off this job really well, you might be able to get in her good graces enough to make her not want to kill you anymore.
>Hell, if she's a natural like some mikliks I know
Actually nevermind, she doesn't want to kill you. She didn't know you were faking! Also, it's not like you stole her money. It was her fault that she bet that much. Also keep in mind this is a prankster. That type of person is likely to take a loss in stride.

Let's go full hog. Wait, do you still have Hit? Might want to swap it for your real gun.

go into the room and "learn" how to play. do kinda ok but still make it seem as if you're just a rookie so when things look like they're going down hill you can then ask Miss about your pay for the bike run. If she tries to avoid it just say it could help you stay in the game longer when you guys (or girls as it seems) finally play Waska.

Maybe this practice thing might be a good time to dig for some information on some of the people Miss wants you to talk to. I mean her friend might let something slip that Miss doesn't want you to hear, like when Miss let it slip that Scratch knew how to play scratchdice

1/2 Hok 2013/09/28(Sat)13:15 No. 542442 ID: d38f67
File 138039931563.png - (20.49KB , 900x468 , 778.png )

>Is your book in code?
It certainly is!

"I'm almost ready, but first, Miss, I would like to swap out my real gun and receive payment, if you would be so kind?"
>"Oh yeah, almost forgot. Here you are. There, now you have a few hundred plus two hundred to work with. I hope you like a lot of rules."
>"I'm not teaching him everything." Scratch says. "Just the basic ruleset, the public stuff. So, it's like a combination board game, card game, and dice game. There's 4 suits, like cards. Diamonds, squares, circles and stars, but unlike cards, there's no numbers..."

I pay good attention and jot down all those rules I already crammed in my brain. No surprises, either. It's still just like I remember it. Each card is a set amount of zeny, and you buy each one. You can buy a single one or buy a small deck and place one or all of them at a starting location on the board. You roll the dice to decide how far forward on the board your deck moves, and every special tile and deck you run into along the way, you receive the effects and fight the other deck ala rock paper scissors style. If you take out the opponents cards, you get those cards into your available cards to play, and likewise, if you lose cards, the opponent gets 'em. You can cash out your stashed cards for zeny, but can only cash out your cards on the board if you get to the right escape tile to pull them back into your available stash.

"So what happens if you have a diamond leading card, and the opponent also has a diamond?"
>"Hey, I said I wasn't gonna show you the in depth rules. But I'll give you a freebie. You can play cards upsidedown. If yours is upside down, and you get put against a rightside up diamond, your diamond goes to the back of your deck and turns rightside up. And no, you don't need to know the rules, Waska's got a good board that has an AI that sorts all this stuff out. Otherwise, it's a slugfest of a game if you're not fast about the rules."

We play a bit, and I pretend like I'm capable of learning yet have no idea what I'm doing. Pretty damn easy to pull off, actually.

2/2 Hok 2013/09/28(Sat)13:15 No. 542443 ID: d38f67
File 138039932116.png - (12.23KB , 700x700 , 779.png )

"So who else is gonna be there?"
>"You're asking me? Whoever shows up who's either a friend or a friend of a friend of Waska's."
>"Hey, don't you at least know the regulars, Scratch?" asks Miss.
>"The regulars and the broke asses go hand in hand."
"What regulars were there, Miss?"
>"A lot of Waska's main buddies go there a bunch. Augy, Principila, Mapholil..."
>"You'll get introduced to them anyway." Scratch interrupts her. "I've got a proposition for you, Pip, because I love Miss so much. You're gonna be able to afford like 2 cards with the buyins, and unless you get lucky as hell, you're going to be wiped clean in seconds. I'll give you a couple thousand so that you can put in some good words for Miss. But if you do get lucky and make some dough out of this, I get 50% of your winnings. Deal?"

>>542443
Deal. It's a bad deal if you think you're going to win, which you shouldn't. It's a good deal if you think you're gonna lose, because she's basically just giving you 2k along with whatever reward you get for doing this.

Oh, speaking of the reward, I think it's time we brought up what the split is going to be for the job we get Miss. 50/50?

Hmm. I say take the deal. This makes is safer to win, actually, since she's not going to complain about you doing better than she thinks you should be able to if you're winning her money.

Also, it's either an opportunity to make up for ripping her off before (which gives us some leeway if she makes you), or double down and rip her off again if we end out running out before paying her back.

Ask why she's willing to put so much turst into someone she just met. As for the deal itself, sure we'll try but you know how to play the game, if she wanted to make money wouldn't it be better if she played him. But fine whatever, you'll try but no promises.

Just trying to make it sound like you really have no idea what your doing is all.

>>542443
You don't have to play completely dumb. You're pretending to be an engineer after all, its a rather learning-heavy profession, so you can probably get away with 'learning' quickly, and 'experimenting' with card placements in a few practice games. Be the Nerd. Pick the system apart.
After all if they think you'll stand a chance at it, they might invest a bit more.

It's a deal, though you'd like to know what kind of good words to put in that'd be in line with what Miss can do, or what she wants Waska to think she can do. 'Cause all you really know about Miss right now is that prank with the chocolate that awry and that she's a bit of a flirt.

>"Augy, Principila, Mapholil"
Three more names to check against your little book of people who want you dead. Say you're gonna use the bathroom before leaving and check it while you're in there.

1/2 Hok 2013/09/28(Sat)16:22 No. 542467 ID: d38f67
File 138041052666.png - (13.87KB , 700x700 , 780.png )

"Deal! But I gotta ask, why are you putting so much faith in me?"
>"I'm not, I'm considering this charity for Miss. But if you actually get lucky, I want in on that."
"And what should I say to Waska about Miss? What sorta jobs does she take? All I know about her is that she pulled a prank with you, and she's kinda flirty."
>"Misssssssssss, you can't just flirt with everyone. You're gonna give the wrong impression!"
>"Hey, what I do in my time is my business!" Miss wiggles and takes another shot of alcohol. It's that sort of wiggle that Pomi's do in the place of blushing.
>"Anyway, Odds and ends." Scratch continues. "The sort of stuff that's important enough to get someone with talent to do, but Waska doesn't want to risk any of his guys for."
"So just about anything then. If you'll excuse me though, I've gotta use your bathroom."
>"Sure."

Let's see, names, names.

Nope, I don't see any of 'em. Gonna shuffle my way to the back though, and review all the sketches I made of people who I'd recognize, but don't actually know the names of. Won't help me now, but just in case I see any book-dwellers later.

2/2 Hok 2013/09/28(Sat)16:22 No. 542468 ID: d38f67
File 138041053930.png - (16.28KB , 700x700 , 781.png )

Knock knock

>"Hey Pip I gotta take a shower before we start whatcha reading?"

I am pretty positive I locked the door.

>>542468
Flatly state that it's none of her business, the door was locked, and who walks in on someone who said they were going to use the bathroom, anyway?

Accuse her of trying to find out your gender. Just tell her you don't have one.

>I am pretty positive I locked the door.
Like that means much when you're hanging out with thieves and tricksters. Especially as one of them owns this place.

>whatcha reading
Diary. (This gives us a list of ready excuses. Say, why we won't her see it if she asks. Or if she gets ahold of it later and asks why its in code, or on paper. Keeps it private).

And if she asks, you like to read in the bathroom, and the diary is convenient since you always have it with you.

That door. Just...just slam it in her face, jeez.
It might smack that constant smug look she has on her face off.
Plus she just picked your lock, any kind of reaction is reasonable with essentially no backlash.

>>542468
universal constant. bathrooms are never as secure as we'd like.

You could go into half-truth territory and say they're your notes. From college. Hopefully your book isn't immediately recognizable as being code?

>>542471
>>542469
Eh, no point in hostilities with the client. Just bear it silently and then never work with her again.

Tell her that you're reading words and that you are currently genderless. Then leave and close the door behind you, preferably after she enters the bathroom.

Being rude or confrontational either burns bridges or makes it seem like we have something to hide.

And seriously, we're a miklik. We don't care about gender, guys. Unless she tries to drag us off to fuck, it's not an issue we need to discuss with her.

>>542484
Correct on the first bit, but for the second bit... she picked a locked bathroom door to talk to us and says she needs a shower, which involves her stripping naked. Given that she picked the lock, she wishes to do so in front of Hok specifically. She is one very, very small step from trying to drag us off to fuck.

>>542485
I assumed she wants to steal the bathroom for a shower, not do it in front of us.

And being a nosy snoop doesn't mean she's interested in Pip's gender or sexytimes, either. She could have correctly wondered if we were hiding anything, and come to the conclusion we'd been in the bathroom longer than was necessary.

>>542486
She's been flirting with us a lot, and did the pomi equivalent of a blush when questioned about it. And I doubt looking a few names up in the book takes suspiciously long compared to, say, taking a dump.

We could say that we were going over our asteroid rain research.

Hok 2013/09/28(Sat)18:02 No. 542492 ID: d38f67
File 138041655797.png - (12.02KB , 700x700 , 782.png )

"It's a diary! Also, I have no gender! Say, miss, isn't knocking and entering on the same heartbeat a little... rudish?"
>"It's cool I really just need to shower. Hold on, I'll give you something to write about! Just.. gotta.."

She starts fumbling with her good arm, before I realize she's taking off her shirt. So I start getting right on out of there. Man, is that how people see me? Nah, I don't enter bathrooms. I don't wanna know what people do in there.

>"Hey, Pip, get over here." I hear Scratch say. The shower faucet goes on. I'll assume she's not too drunk to take a shower.
"Yeeep?"
>"Regretting picking a job with her yet? Be honest."

Well, working alongside someone who picks bathroom locks while someone's in there does make you a bit uncomfortable, yes.

>Man, is that how people see me?
No, not really. At this point she's either really flirty, drunk, actively trying to manipulate you, or she just really has a thing for ambiguously gendered little green dudes.

>Regretting picking a job with her yet?
Not really. Things haven't been quiet as quiet or simple as I expected, but it's not as if anything bad has happened. Yet.

Are you telling me I will, eventually?

(Oh-hoo, she looks unhappy. I think she may be planning to backstab Miss in some way, and wants you in on it).

>>542492
No, no one's tried to murder us yet. That's a lot better than things usually go.

Ask about possible conflict between them, imply worry about her maybe backstabbing her, and wonder whether this could be a honeytrap.

>>542495
Careful, we're undercover. People don't normally try to murder 'Pip'.

>>542496
Point. Say it as a joke, then.

Also, she might just be a decent person and concerned about Miss' lechery affecting us. We should still plan as though she's trying to backstab Miss or whatever just in case, though.

>>542443
... Alrighty then. Take the deal.

>>542445
... I think she knows you can play ._. There's not much other reason to do this.

Hok 2013/09/28(Sat)19:46 No. 542512 ID: d38f67
File 138042277454.png - (11.28KB , 700x700 , 783.png )

"Nah, no one's tried to murder me, which is pretty important. I mean, the bathroom thing there is more than I'm comfortable with, but I guess I can chalk that up to being drunk or something."
>"... good answer. Listen, she's a handful at times, but I care about her. When it comes down to it, she just wants to be helpful, and fun to be around. She's not always good at the latter. Or the former. But she tries, and that's a fuck lot more than I can say about most of the asswipes down here. What I'm getting at here, is do both of us a favor and cut her some slack when she does shit like that. I don't want her getting hurt for not treating life like anyone's gonna put a gun to her face at any time. Even though it could happen."

Wow. Good thing I didn't try play off a notion that Scratch wanted to backstab Miss.

>>542512
So, the flirting isn't because you're a hot stack of miklik?

>she just wants to be helpful, and fun to be around. She's not always good at the latter.
Actually, she does sound like you. You can relate to that carefree attitude. She just doesn't seem to have your luck to fall back on. Then again, you don't have friends who go out of their way to protect you, so whatever.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with looking out for another free spirit, or getting in on some of the chaos. She's fun, if a little weird. And besides, with all the slack you've gotten over the years, maybe it's good to give someone else a bit.

...and hey, one less person who might want you dead if this makes up for ripping Scratch off.

(Obviously, don't voice any of this Hok-thought to Scratch).

>Good thing I didn't try play off a notion that Scratch wanted to backstab Miss.
That's why in this kind of situation you let the mark lead, and not act off a hunch earlier! (Unless you have to). Which is what you did. C'mon, you know how to play people, Hok.

>what say
I think I can manage that. Not terribly keen on anyone getting guns put in their face in any event.

man.

a genuine cheerful optimist? no wheels within wheels or ulterior motives?

is it too much to hope for?

look unless someone tries to flat out kill me I'm not going to hate them for a little fault or two in there personality. I mean no one's perfect right?

(and looking back on it, I don't think Hok really holds that much of a grudge against people who have tried and killed him... then again that could just be because they're so many of them if he did hold a grudge for everyone who tried to take a shot at him he'd be even crabbier then Tin)

Pip go hop in the shower with her right now
Ask if Scratch wants to join
Just have a big fat bubble fight

>>542532
Look, dude, it's fine if you jerk off to quests, no one cares enough to judge, but at least don't post your fantasies.

She is strangely endearing when she's not trying to hard to get in your featureless pants, so mostly when she's talking to other people.

>>542533
It was more so Hok would loosen up a little. This is like, what, the first time he's been on decently friendly terms with anyone?
Right now, it's a time for relax. A time for play. Like, legit fun here man.

And he's just going to skip this opportunity? Take advantage of your new identity to experiment! Do something different! Have fun. Be a part of something.

>>542537
Eh, that we've seen, I suppose. Relaxation would be nice, but wrong place and wrong time. We're pretending to be someone else and working for them. Plus Scratch might be a bit mad about Hok bilking her out of that money way back, but it doesn't seem too likely. How much money was it?

We might consider telling them the truth and opening up a bit. Maybe.

>We might consider telling them the truth and opening up a bit. Maybe.
Too soon. I really don't see Miss as the able yo keep quiet, and Scratch is trying to protect her friend- and Hok is someone who ripped her off before.

Maybe when our disguise doesn't matter anymore, or Scratches opinion won't be a problem or has been changed.

>>542539
Personally I think once Hok wins a ton of money and gives it to Scratch, it might be a good time for him to reveal who he is. I mean, he'd have sortof paid her back, right?

On the other hand Hok could just wait until Miss's job is done and he gets paid and offers them all jobs at the Trade Hub. Oh also we still need to get info on what's going on around the place. Maybe we can ask Scratch here?

>>542540
I suggest we ask Scratch about that miklik she said was a natural to see if she's still pissed off at Hok.

ok unless we're going to be giving these 2 a job offer (If we can figure out what they actually do that is a distinct possibility) I really don't see any point to telling them who we really are. Miss most likely has no idea who Hok even is other than maybe a story Scratch told her once or twice and maybe as some face on the bounty board and we have reason to be a bit weary of telling Scratch (at least for right now, if we can make her some money she might be a bit less likely to want to kill us). I mean telling them who we really are probably won't help us out to much so I just say keep being Pip for the time being. With all the people out there who would love to see nothing more the Hok's head on a pike it has to be nice to not being Hok every now and then right? Just enjoy it for as long as you can... and we still kinda need to find out what is going on outside the hub at some point as well still so when we eventually head out feel free to keep an ear out for any gossip that might give us leads.

1/3 Hok 2013/09/29(Sun)12:23 No. 542565 ID: d38f67
File 138048261758.png - (18.58KB , 700x700 , 784.png )

>Just have a big fat bubble fight
Yeah I think I'm going to try to not encourage her. In fact I'm pretty sure I have allergies to half the brands of bubble soap.

"Uh... yeah. I can manage that. Never could judge someone for a little flaw or two."
>"Good. Once Miss gets out of the shower, we'll go."
"So, what other mikliks did you know were naturals?"
>"Huh? Oh, that was me saying that the game isn't beyond miklik intellect. Dunno about yours as an individual, though."

Well that's a response, and we wait for miss to get out who is, thankfully, clothed. The trip is a walk down into what I bet is the 2nd sector of asteroid interior, and we all get patted down and felt up for weapons and all that. It was nice having my gun again for not quite half an hour, but I guess this was to be expected.

2/3 Hok 2013/09/29(Sun)12:24 No. 542566 ID: d38f67
File 138048264666.png - (19.53KB , 700x700 , 785.png )

>"Hey, Waska." Scratch says. And, turns out I do know Waska! Just didn't know his name.
"Heyyy! ... who's the miklik?"
>"Just a buddy. She's got cash, of course. Her name is Pip. Do you mind?"
"Nahhhh. Miss is here too, I guess."
>"Yep yep." Miss replies.
"Well you came just in time. We were about ready to start, but we'll bring out the higher capacity board, so don't worry your hearts out about it. Get that out for us, Mimi!"
>"Of course, Boss."
"Now, let's all introduce ourselves, yeah?

3/3 Hok 2013/09/29(Sun)12:24 No. 542567 ID: d38f67
File 138048265267.png - (63.46KB , 1200x800 , 786.png )

In fact, funny thing, it turns out that I know everyone here. Waska introduces us, so now I got names to their faces.

>>542567
HAHAHA
ok, gameplan is unchanged. Just do our 'best' without actually winning more than just over breaking even and we should be fine.

>In fact I'm pretty sure I have allergies to half the brands of bubble soap.
You have a comical weakness? Best to keep that under your hat.

>lots of new faces
>you've ripped off almost all of them.
Hmm. Good thing you're not yourself. I think the gal behind Waska is the only one without a reason to hold a grudge.

Interesting to see an independent arkot. Or a cyborg nuemono. I thought mods really didn't work well with regeneration and all.

>what do
Well, obviously, as the game goes on, you're going to try and talk your way into that off the books job for you and Miss with Waska.

As for playing the game, you want to try and break even or make a small to modest profit if you can. Try to make it look like luck with some skill- don't let on you know as many advanced moves as you do (maybe more steer away from falling for other people's secret or advanced moves than using them yourself. That's easier to make look as dumb luck or caution). Nothing wrong with making money or keeping Scratch happy with you, but we don't want to draw too much attention or piss everyone else at the table off, yet.

I have a feeling whatever secret job we get will be more interesting and profitable than cleaning out the gambling table, anyways.

... you know when we get back to the trading hub we should thank Itchy for making us do more then just take off your hat for a disguise. Anyways as for what to do... play the game and see if you can't set miss up with a few jobs like she asked you to. And for winning, I say just come out ahead a just few hundred Zeny so it would seem more appropriate to claim beginners luck and if anyone asked how you're doing so well just point out that you were studying to become an engineer before you got stuck here, figuring out how things work is kinda the whole point of that so you can build them... wouldn't go flaunting that little lie however seeing as we have 2 scientist types in the room that could call you out... no that I think about it just say your good at problem solving if anyone ask.

lel. Nice.

>>542569
And remember, think of selling your identity as the con, here. Remember that means you need to let yourself lose some hands and fall victim to some tricks.

>>542569
As i recall, implants work just fine for neumono. Rokoa mentioned them way back in the first thread and said she didn't like them because it was too easy to be screwed over by an EMP or similar.

The plan's pretty much to lose enough that you just barely do better than break even. Just to check, the neumono behind Waska is nobody you know, right?

>>542567
JEEZ Hok. Okay, uh, obviously we can't just win a ridiculous amount. How about you come out like a few thousand ahead? Or if you can do something "lucky" to win a whole lot all at once, do that and get out. Act incredibly surprised and then nervous, if that happens.

Hope you've been troubling yourself to disguise your voice, buddy!

It might be good to break a little less than even, too. Put them in a good mood because hey, they won a bit of money.

Eh. 'around even', let's say.

>>542567
'discover' one of the more advanced rules. Maybe the AI that runs the table announces why one person wins over another?

We don't want to be here!

Survive for a few rounds, then take an unlucky dive for the worse.

It shouldn't be hard, what with how little "Pip" knows about the game.

>>542567
Wait is that a human i see???

Hok 2013/10/03(Thu)16:59 No. 542936 ID: d38f67
File 138084477419.png - (11.95KB , 700x700 , 787.png )

>I thought mods really didn't work well with neumono regeneration and all.
Yeahhh it's come a long way though. There's still complications and stuff that makes trying to get a squad of cyborg neumono ridiculously expensive, and even moreso if they have stuff like defense against EMP.

Getting in a fight with a well attuned cyborg neumono, specially if they have external augmentations like powerarmor too, is crazy stupid though. Pretty sure even Rokoa has an EMP somewhere on or in her for that kinda thing.

>The neumono behind Waska is nobody you know, right?
Oh, I know her, she's just Waska's secretary or consort of wife or something. A grudge with Waska's probably a grudge with her, but otherwise we don't have personal beefs.

We ante up, or the scrapdice equivalent thereof, and I get a pair of cards to start off. Everyone's playing in a way that lets me play a bit conservatively. Judging by the opening move, everyone either has no idea what they're doing or is playing to win.

>"So do we have a deal for linking your outpost with ours?" Christina asks once it's halfway appropriate.
"A deal? Haha no, we have a proposal. I'll have my people hammer out the detail with your people. You have people, right?"
>"I'll get some."
"Good. So, what's your name, green bud?"
"Pip, sir."
"Never seen ya, so let's hear better introductions. What brings you to my table, huh? In let's say, 25 words or less. Oh, and 2 more random-draw cards, section A-13, facing east in reverse."

"My friends wanted to talk to you. I had nothing else to do."

I've been told you sometimes have work that needs doing. And a card game makes for an entertaining interview, if nothing else. (22 words).

>>542936
"I am here on behalf of Miss, as she is seeking employment, and news about the movements of big players on the asteroid."

>>542948
I don't think we actively want to come out and say we're searching for information. No one likes a snoop, especially not guys who hire people off the books.

People also tend to clam up if they know someone is trying to find something out. We might be able to learn a good deal just listening at this table and jumping in at the right moments without letting on what we're doing.