Slamurai

The Darkness Descends (Fantasy Conquest RP)

@Aristo

Still with us or are you bowing out?

@Bright_Ops

I dunno; I think I'll try to get a post up today and see if I can get back into it. But if other things demand my attention in the future, I may pass off Chalez as an NPC.

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

Cecilia watched her Osbanian companion's reckless maneuver with a twist of horror on her face. This is what she hated about the girl; an utter lack of self-preservation and borderline insanity. Though she was amazed at some of the things Sarah got away with in the past, it didn't stop her from almost wishing she'd stayed gone. Her blood pressure would've appreciated that.

"Godammit, Sarah!" Cecilia blurted, nearly popping a vein. Sarah made no effort to request cover fire before executing the improvised attack, and Cecilia found herself having to back her up with a torrent of suppressive fire. The second Barghest ducked back behind cover as rounds flew past and into the corner of the structure, coating it with debris.

As Sarah's prey went down, Cecilia skirted to the other side of the street, trying to advance upon the lone Barghest. A glance at her C3 suite revealed Bernard making clever use of his surroundings to back them up. Thanks, Old Faithful... More flashes of white whizzed past on Cecilia's monitor - three more Barghests on a vector to intercept the Panthers. She made sure her ECM masked her radar signature, and skirted to position herself behind the rise of an overpass, autocannon barrel resting over the top.

"I see 'em, Bern." Cecilia gave her control yoke a delicate touch, trying to line up a shot. The trio, however, had other plans, suddenly splitting up and heading down different roads.

"Shit, they're gonna try to envelop us." Who was behind her? The C3 told her it was Harold's FRAME. Cecilia would have to trust him on this.

"Harold, eyes on the intersection at my left. I've got a feeling they'll try to pry at our sides. The rest of you, stick to the buildings and advance on the Cradle building. We'll cover you. We need to lift this siege!"

-----

"Damn! Shāyú-Sì is down. I'm pinned on Highview and Mulberry. Need immediate assistance."

"We hear you, Shāyú-Wǔ. Moving on your four-o'clock. Try to sweep left and get around them. We'll harass their flank."

"Copy, I'm moving."

"We just have to hold them off until we secure the package. Our ground teams are already inside. Don't let these dregs intervene. Shāyú-Èr, Sān. Split and isolate."

"Copy, Shāyú-Yī."

"Beta Team, we're going after the Panthers from the west. I need you to circle around and hit them from the south; how-copy?"

"Solid copy, Shāyú-Yī. We're on it."

One of the new Barghests skirted around an office building, keeping a careful watch in-between structures. Like a tiger, it stalked through the concrete jungle in search of prey, autocannon held high. A faint beam of white registered on the pilot's monitor and he froze, back to the structure between himself and the contact. Another quick peek and he confirmed it - the Handou that had taken down his teammate in a clear LOS. He raised his weapon to the machine's shoulder, nudging the barrel around the corner and taking aim. A fraction of a second later, a lock, then a flash of white erupted from his muzzle.

"Good-bye, lǎowài."

-----

Inside Cradle's HQ, alarms blared as security personnel scrambled to defend the facility's most important sections. Richard and Amelia had been moved to what amounted to a panic room, crouched behind thick concrete and bulletproof glass. Armed guards stood ready at the entrance, brandishing small-arms. Scattered reports from their radios told Richard that this area of the building hadn't been touched. Instead, security had exchanged fire around Research and Development, which was exactly where his people had taken the cargo.

"Miss Blake, what were you about to tell me about the package we delivered? I think this warrants some explanation." Richard looked up from his padd, where he'd been tracking the Panthers' combat progress.

Amelia sighed, straightening a strand of red locks that had become disheveled. "...Fine. But this information does not leave this room."

"Scout's honor," Bentz quipped.

"The trucks were carrying components that the OSU had stolen from the Sodroyan League. Cradle was contracted by the government to work on a system that would allow pilots to interface with FRAMEs through neural implants. Completely hands-off control; fly-by-thought. We'd begun experimenting with neural technologies alongside manual control to help replicate fine motor skills in the machines, and allow for faster, smoother responses. But the League wanted to push the boundaries a step further. They wanted to hook up pilots to their machines, trick brain signals into moving the FRAMEs, instead of the human body. We figured this would streamline and revolutionize FRAME operation; make it so controlling them was as intuitive as moving one's own body."

"That's insane," Bentz gasped. "How long have you been working on this?"

"A long time, Mr. Bentz. Our work was interrupted when one of our employees turned out to be a mole and the OSU got wind of the research. They stole the HFI components from under our noses while we were transporting them; much like you did."

"HFI?"

"Human-FRAME Interface. We've kept this under wraps for years. We can't risk losing it again."

"Those FRAMEs out there aren't Osbanian makes. No markings, no insignia. Who do you think is trying to steal it?"

"I don't have an answer to that. I'd like to think everyone assigned to this project was a loyal Sodroyan. It seems that was not the case." Maybe that's what we get for our 'no discrimination policy,' she muttered under her breath. The radio crackled and a stressed voice groaned from the speaker.

"W-we can't hold them! They're tearing through the patrols we sent to defend R&D. These guys... they're the real deal. Special forces types, or something!"

"Dammit," Amelia snarled. "Section off the HFI bloc! We cannot risk the safety of the modules."

"Ma'am! We're redirecting all personnel to sec-Augh!" PAM PAM PAM

"Sonofabitch," Richard muttered. He brought his padd to his lips, frequency set to the Panthers' radios. "Cradle's security is getting hammered in here! These people are good, really good. I'm okay, but you have to break through and stop this heist!"

"Mr. Bentz, the Director is on the line. He says the Sodroyan military is on the way. He just needs you to hold out until reinforcements arrive."

"Thank fuck."

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

@DarkStar
I'll turn the other way for the moment, because I don't want to bog down the pacing, but for future reference, I intended on combat being more 'realistic' - as much as piloting six-ton humanoid machines will allow, anyway. FRAMEs aren't really designed to jump as high as you probably describe, or deliver martial arts-worthy kicks, and especially not at the same time. Rather, think of them as humanoid weapons platforms, operating with deliberate protocols, much like a modern fighting vehicle. Certainly, you could manipulate them in a way to execute crude punches or shoulder-tackles, although this is usually the extent of their 'hand-to-hand' potential, without dedicated melee tools, and often used only as a last resort or in exceptional circumstances.

Not to mention, Sarah's gone and put herself into the open, and is probably looking at the gun barrels of more Barghests than any sane operator would care to imagine (though she's not so sane herself, is she?). A friendly reminder, that as GM, I look forward to taking control of enemies and 'reprimanding' poor tactical decisions.

@EmptyArmor
Bernard is a creative old man and I love it.

Also, be thankful you're out here in your FRAMEs and not getting fisted by the A-Team inside Cradle. Not that Shāyú Unit are pushovers either, though.

We're currently engaged with one fireteam; at least five. If their dialogue is anything to go by, there's another team on the move somewhere.

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

Cecilia pulled on her helmet and her harness, thoughtfully placed inside the cockpit by her crewmen. She was anxious, and one could tell from the crook in her brow. Most of these Panthers had only one op under their belts as a team, and they were already being thrust into the frying pan. Somehow, they'd have to overcome their lack of team cohesion in a matter of minutes, or get their asses handed to them by whatever was out there. Worse still, they had no idea what they were up against. Unlike a proper op, they were going in blind. Cecilia decided it'd be up to her to keep things organized. She sighed - she really ought to appoint herself a subordinate.

The cockpit hatch closed overhead, and Cecilia strapped herself in. The glare of the monitors washed over her, informing her that her new Kirin was running up to par. She dipped the footpedals, sending the FRAME down the Samigina's ramp and onto the streets of Hamarr.

The moments prior to an engagement were critical. A team needed to position itself in the best avenue of attack, while minimizing risk. Obtaining fire superiority was the key to winning engagements, and in a dense urban jungle like Hamarr, that was no exception. The Panthers needed to get eyes on target and identify the threat, preferably before it could do the same.

"Pair up," Cecilia voiced. "Watch each other's back. These streets are tight; it's easy to get caught with your pants down." She maneuvered behind a corner, peering with just the bare minimum of her FRAME's opticals exposed. The radar was dead so far, although her C3 suite marked the location of buildings and friendly FRAMEs.

"Great, they're probably got jamming equipment active. If you've got ECM, do the same. Use your visuals."

She ticked the thermal optic switch on the control panel and her main screen doused everything in a monochrome haze. The streetlights and windows, lit up in white, dotted her vision. More explosions could be heard a few streets away. Cecilia waved the Panthers forward, scooting around the corner of 31st and Highview. She scanned the adjacent streets and alleyways as they passed by, keeping up a vigilant guard. When she'd reached Bembroke Street, she peered around a commercial office, coming face to face with the barrel of an autocannon.

Fuck! "Contact!!" Cecilia retreated back behind the building, raising her weapon and blind-firing around the corner to suppress the FRAMEs on the other side. Although he'd barely gotten a glimpse at them, she recognized the silhouette - XM5 Barghests. FRAME of choice for Perizian Union force recon units. These FRAMEs however, had no identifying markings on their chassis. Although there were only two down Highview, Cecilia had no doubt that there were plenty more, probably moving to take advantage of the confusion.

"Spread out! Eyes on all sectors! We can't afford to get pinned down!"

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

@boomloverStarting credits is 600,000 for starting characters. And we'll go ahead and allow everything that's listed in the equipment sections as available to you.

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

@DarkStar
Remove your lederhosen from the premises!

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

@Aristo ok that is good to know. is it ok to use mood music in my posts?

@boomlover

I don't see why not. Whatever gets you immersed!

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

@Aristo I WANT !! I will be making a character as soon as possible. And i might regret saying this but this is my first time trying advanced. so expect a few mistakes here and there.

@boomlover

A long as your posts have substance and you get acquainted with the customization system, you should be fine!

The Darkness Descends (Fantasy Conquest RP)

Sorry, I just- have't really been feeling it. I usually play more freeform NRPs, and I'm finding that I'm much more attached to my nations and involved when I've put a fair bit of time into shaping them; rather than cherrypicking from a trait or unit list. I thought I'd give this a go, but after some thought I can't say I'm all that vested in managing the mechanical portion - I'm after a narrative, not so much a board game.

FRAMEs (Mech combat, political intrigue & corporate struggles)

@Aristo Excuse me but is it still possible for me to join?

@boomlover

Sure; since we had one of our players drop, the last slot if yours, if you want it!