[Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game — Legacy Forums

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#41

The Ost-Strike raised it's autorifle, and fired a burst of 30mm rounds at Stressor's Shadow Hawk before crumpling under the onslaught of rounds from Redshirt's rebooted Wolverine and Cobain's Hatchetman. The infantry scattered and the crew of the tank bailed out of the vehicle.

A single aerospace fighter shot overhead.

It made a second pass, unloading it's full payload on the biocreche facility, turning the building into an inferno. Secondary explosions blew the structure apart from the inside, and radio communications abruptly resumed.

'Talon Squad Please Respond'

'Artillery Support Available'

'Air Strike, report'

'Able Squad and Delta Squad converge on Sector 11'

'Talon Squad Please Respond'

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#42

Derek now took the time to begin to free his legs, using the hatchet as a wrecking bar. "Let me know if any of the locals try to be a hero, Hound dog."

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#43

"Solid copy. Talon squad here. Appreciate the air-support, command. Just about to clean up here, over."

Maxine aimed for the biggest mech and fired while strafing closer, her mech tearing up the landscape with each heavy stride.

"Give em our coordinates, staff!" Maxine shouted at Marsha.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#44

The aerospace jock hung overhead for a few seconds, a stall climb giving the pilot a chance to look around before heading back to base. A brief burst of high frequency noise across the radio band announced that the large jet moving away from them was no ordinary craft, but was rather a Seibetronian working for the military.

The fight was over, and a pair of military carry-alls were inbound to retrieve Talon Squad and deploy teams of armored infantry to secure the prisoners and inspect the ruins of the pre-con base, and to see what might remain of the shroud generator.

1100 hours report to Commander J. Carnahan for mission debriefing

1200 hours downtime

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#45

"Just call me Long Shot Sarge," She replied to Maxine, before keying her com to a wider frequency and radioing in their position, before switching back to the group channel "Great work everyone, stand by for aerial retrieval and RTB." (return to base)

She gave her LAI an approving nod "You did great too, honor and glory to the Federation!"

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#46

"Don't stress it, Hot Shot." Maxine said, as she lined up her mecha with the carryall super magnets to prepare pickup.
"Line up, Talon Squad. Good work today." Maxine smiled to herself. A tough nut to crack, but she'd pulled it off. She was missing a few things though, the opposition had been weak, that was the only reason they had survived that frontal assault, of that she had no doubts. Next time, she hoped to come better prepared, with better gear.... Speaking of gear.

"Javier, next time there's a vital piece of information regarding the mission sitting at the forefront of your mind, I expect to learn of it without asking, are we clear on that?"

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#47

Derek managed to free himself from the wreck of the tower with as much dignity as he could and walked his mech over to the dropships.

He was quite happy with the results himself, having personally wrecked most of an armoured unit was a good outcome. 4 Tank silhouettes and a mech would look good on his mech.

While the jammers had prevented HQ from getting a live feed of the battle, the guncams would provide lots of premium viewing for the battle. He would have to check the unit's social media policies when he got back...

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#48

Before the Carry-alls were back at the mechadrome, the Arco San Louis news department had already received it's video junkets from the base media officer, and had compiled and generated their own various recreations (virtual and online of course) to demonstrate the awesome might of the Federation, and it's nigh unstoppable mecha. Some stories hovered over the military porn, while others were littered with anti-Amerikka Command propaganda.

Re: Social Media Policy - There is an open social media policy, the mechwarriors are intended to be local celebrities, and the arco residents are going to be interesting in their opinions on things. There are a few rules, aside from supporting the Federation and keeping the Federation line, Mechwarriors are strongly discouraged from imposing their opinions on political or policy matters. Have a favorite brew, favorite place to hang out, favorite sports team, have an opinion on the Designated Hitter, and cyborgs in contact sports, even if it is controversial, people love that.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#49

A quick detour to the bathroom then onto the communal showers. Maxine noted with some satisfaction that there were no noticeable augmentations or gen mods in her troop. They had their own uses of course, but there's something to be said about being "just" human. Once she looked crisp in a fresh uniform, she proceeded to the meeting room where she awaited this Commander Carnahan.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#50

Marsha followed her commanders lead, heading straight for the showers and crisp dress uniform, taking a few extra moments to ensure her skirt was properly hemmed to regulation specs and her shoes perfectly polished and all the proper medals and badges in place. It would be the first time meeting Commander Carnahan, and no doubt there would be journalist inquires and interviews to follow as the local media sought to get a profile and handle on the new arrivals that had stolen the spotlight in today morning action.

Look your best and you make the Federation look their best, leave the glory and energy drink endorsements to those with the personality and looks to make the most of it. Old words from a retired veteran pilot that had given and advanced battle tactics lecture during her days at the academy when he'd been asked about publicity. To her it seemed like sound advice, and judging by Derek's over the top take downs the press would have more interest in him than her more by the book approach, which suited her just fine.

She entered the brief room a few minutes after Maxine, giving her a quick nod as she walked past her to take the next available seat to her right. "Tricky out there today with the coms down, I'll make it a priority to see to it all our mecha have functional laser communications before our next op." She said to her quietly, "Still we pulled it off without any casualties or even serious mecha damage, not bad for our first outing."

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#51

Maxine nodded and leaned on her elbows. "Sounds good, don't want them catching us with our pants down again. Yeah I feel that we all pulled our weight today. Listen, Marsha, I was thinking, we havent got memories of a common base camp to lean on, so what say we all go out and grab a drink tonight. We're gonna be relying on another from here on out, and I for one would like to know more about who I'm placing that trust in. It's not an order, but sooner would be better than later."

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#52

Marsha nodded in approval, "Sounds like a great idea, getting to know the lance off duty will make easier to work together on. I think our two local members can point us somewhere the drinks aren't watered down too, unless we wind up back in the field on night patrol."

She glanced down at her data slate going over the numbers for the recent battle in silence for a moment. "In these older mecha particle beams are going to be a regular problem, I'd suggest we make them a top priority target from now on when encountered, unless you have a different tactical approach in mind?"

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#53

Derek too made a beeline for the showers, he tended to run his mech hot, and needed to cool down both physically and mentally. That fight had ended far too quickly for the fighting part of his brain, though his tactical brain was satisfied with the results.

He didn't choose his dress uniform - he hated them and figured it a bit pretentious. This was a mission, nothing more, and the cameras would want a mechwarrior, not a soldier.
Him simply donned a new field uniform, checked for any problems, put a little more polish on his boots and headed out.

He sat down near Sanchez and Stressor. "Sargents," he said as he sat down.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#54

"In these older mecha particle beams are going to be a regular problem, I'd suggest we make them a top priority target from now on when encountered, unless you have a different tactical approach in mind?"

"Sounds prudent enough, if the conditions allow it, certainly. We had to play it by ear today, but hopefully there'll be time for some actual tactics next time."

-

"Sargents."

Maxine twisted around to look at the new arrival.

"Put the formalities aside for the moment, Sergeant. Derek was it? I was just saying to Marsha here that we ought to go out and get to know eachother. If there's time I was thinking tonight. Does that suit you?"

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#55

Derek gave them a broad smile. "Yes, Derek. Sounds like a great idea, " he said.

"Hope the next fight goes as well."

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#56

"Hope the next fight goes as well."

"The way you all handled yourself out there, I don't see why it wouldn't." She smiled. Hopefully this Carnahan would make an appearance soon, she was hoping to squeeze in some time with her family and boyfriend before tonight.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#57

Carnahan eventually showed up, and by the condition of his fatigues and the drag in his step, he had been running pretty hard since the mission sortied. He was a tall man, lean with a short cropped head of red hair. "Sorry about being late, Talon Squad. The reporters wanted a piece of me, and then the brass had me running detail for the other squads first, they seem to forget that Able and Bravo squads didn't so much as fire a shot.' he sat down across from Sanchez, 'I've gone over the mission reports, and it was messy, but damned good for a first run from an unbriefed squad. On record you've gotten the kill counts, but on the public side, the media is going to put Able squad on the face of this sortie. Appearances, according to the Media Liaison Office, they don't want to see antiques with battle damage standing in the rubble, they are going to show shiny new machines standing on top of your kills.' he said, and sounded disgusted.

'So, how did it go?" he asked.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#58

Derek let the squad leader speak first, but inwards he was seething. He had had his fill of fixed fights outside, and here it was again. Still the kills were on record, so not a total loss. Guess he needed to make sure _they_ had the shiny new mechs next time...

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#59

Maxine picked up on the informal tone and rearranged her thoughts, given the relaxed attitude she didn't bother to stand up for the report, she did however sit to attention. "Well sir, Talon squad arrived on mission site as planned. On arrival we walked straight into an enemy shroud and had to think on our feet. Cover was non-existent so I deemed a frontal assault the only viable option at the time. We stormed the place, forced them to re-group and then reinforcements cleaned up. The enemy forces were underequipped but given our current resources, it was still a good fight."

She wouldn't go as far as pat her squad on the back in front of command, if their job was deemed good that was their say. Nor would she question command's decisions, even though they irked her, someone else stealing her glory. After a while though, she had to add.

"Sir, permission to speak freely? No mechas that's out taking heat will ever look shiny for long." The implication being, would they continue scratching someone's else's back from the shadows. She sure hoped not.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#60

Marsha took her queue from Maxine, backing her inquiry with a smooth interjection, "Perhaps you should remind command that actual battle footage of the event when seen by the public will tell a far different story then their attempt at propaganda and reflect poorly on both the pilots appearing to take credit for our sortie, and the brass that authorized the idea?"

There's nothing the brass hates more than being caught in a lie, and pointing it out to them before the fact may just keep them from from making said mistake and denying us our rightful recognition.

She looked over at Derek and gave him an approving nod, "Derek's actions out there today sir, that's the stuff that belong on the news reel highlights, once our enemies see the Federation can pull off those kinds of maneuvers with second rate mecha, they'll certainly rethink what our front line forces are capable of." She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt to keep her hands from curling into fists at the notion of her team taking all the risk and someone else riding their coattails to better careers.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#61

Derek raised an eyebrow slightly, but said nothing. They had said more then he would have dared - his parents had lived and breathed politics, and the Pits were not a lot different.

The decisions were made well above Carnahan. It was good he did not upload this footage before the meeting. The powers that be disliked embarrassment, and there were too many things that could 'go wrong' on the next mission.

He would just have to try harder next time, and do something they couldn't ignore.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#62

'The battlecam footage that the public sees is going to be edited, and the wizards in the visual media lab are going to make sure that there aren't any classified things on the reel when it's released. If you think you're mad, Thundercracker is beyond pissed that his run on the Shroud generator has been completely cut from all the reels.' Carnahan said, very likely referencing the seibertronian air support they had.

'You guys did a solid job. The three of you are being attached to Carlos Squad, and you will be reinforcing them for an operation in 48 hours.'

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#63

"Understood sir. Sir, who will be in command?" Maxine held her breath.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#64

'That position is still in flux, since the CO of Carlos Squad is being transferred to Bravo Squad,' Carnahan said. 'This is the biggest incursion that Amerikka Command has made in well over five years, and the boffins at the top are concerned that this was a probe just to see what we would do, and how we would respond to a threat. Rather than waiting for the next strike, we are mobilizing a response. The mission isn't named, and it's not official, and I'll trust you to all keep this to yourself. We are going to deploy a large strike force into sector 119, which is where their last full scale military base was. They had heavy support, and we had major air support, the AFS Flagg.' That mission made it into major media rotation, with the massive Federation battleship engaging an entrenched foe with anti-warship capability. The guns blazed, and dozens of mecha were deployed, including some major well known companies, like the Green Sparrows in their Phoenix Hawk LAMs, and the navy's Jolly Roger squadron with their heavy Corsair III aerospace fighters.

It spawned two major Sims, and a holovid franchise.

'This time we don't have the Flagg, we will have just one ship, a destroyer, the AFS John Sevier.'

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#65

"Black ops?" Marsha nodded in recognition of the secrecy of the mission, feeling at once both honored and slightly surprised their squad was pulling such highly skilled missions so soon after arrival.

New recruits make great deniable assets, they're not well known, so even if their bodies turn up in the wreckage they won't be able to match faces and genetics to any known operational group, not readily anyway. On the upside, those who survive their tours in black ops often get a few extra fringe benefits, and a better chance at bigger, tougher challenges and the hardware to take on those risks and come out on top.

The words from her favorite book, Hidden Firelight, Natalia Donovaks autobiograpy, chronicling her career running shadow ops when she was part of the Kell Hounds mercenary company ran through her mind, her eyes hardening at the potentially career changing opportunity the next mission may hold for them.

"It is an honor to have the opportunity to participate in such a decisive action sir., we won't let you down."

She gave him a firm nod, feeling a swell of confidence in their lances ability to rise to the challenge, especially after the resounding success of their first mission.

The hell with ticker tape parades and adoring fans, if I get to run black ops missions on a regular basis I could care less who gets the credit publically, the brass, and my lance will know the real score, and that's all that matters.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#66

Maxine looked at both of her sergeants and nodded. She didn't have anything further to add, though she was feeling thoughtful and so she awaited to be dismissed.

It would be the first time she was sent on a black ops mission. Taking risks was part of the job, but at the end of those missions you could expect your family to at least get a millitary funeral, hopefully a body to bury and some closure if things did go south. She wasn't sure the same was true for black ops missions, they certainly wouldn't know why she died or how. MIA, KIA... Heavy stuff, she tried to shrug it off. Still alive. She thought.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#67

(OOC - We are going to move out of an active combat phase for a brief interlude, time for everyone to get settled in.)

Incoming mechwarriors have several options for housing, with the most common choice being the mechadrome barracks, where they are less than five minutes walk from their machines. It's close, but the dorm like rooms are cramped, but a step up from the eight to a room bunks where the clones, marines, and other on duty personnel sleep. There are perks to piloting the big iron. The second option is to apply for a military funded residence in Arco San Louis, which adds a personal commute of 20 to 45 minutes depending on light rail traffic in the arcology. Mechwarriors tend to get minor celebrity treatment in the arco, which can be good and can be bad, just depending on the personality of the mechwarrior in question. Playboys, roughly handsome pilots, and such tend to enjoy private quarters for romantic trysts with groupies, while those who play the bad boy trouble maker card generally stay on base because there are way fewer people who want to teach that punk mechwarrior a lesson. The final and discouraged option is getting a residence in the favelas around the city. Contrary to documentaries about how bad all of the favelas are, the favelas, especially those closest to the arco, are closer to vertical suburbs than Dreddian slum fortresses.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#68

(I assume we just post it here or are we supposed to PM you our choices? If so nuke this post after copying it to your GM folder :))

Marsha would likely go for the second option -Apply for a military funded residence in Arco San Louis, something she likely did as soon as she learned of her transfer. Not so much for her trysts with adoring fan girls, but more because she values her privacy and a chance to go over manuals and regulations or otherwise relax after an op without a bunch of other Lance mates getting under foot, or base drill/noise ruining her shut eye.

She also likes the feeling of living somewhere more among the people, since it helps remind her who she;s fighting to protect, and makes it easier to compartmentalize her military lifestyle, when off duty.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#69

Maxine took the shuttle out to the favelas to see her family, it was a big step up from the undercity, but she reckoned with her father's new job, they could still do better. At least it seemed that way, he still hadn't divulged what kind of job it was. All they knew was they were seemingly wealthy all of a sudden. The happiness they all felt was blanketed by uneasiness brought on by the secrecy. There had to be a catch, and they all feared what it might be. She stepped up to the door and rung the bell.

I was kinda hoping to leave the mystery about what the father does up to you Scras, because I haven't got a clue. :)

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#70

Arco San Louis itself was defined specifically as the three arcologies connected via light rail, two residential/commercial towers and a single commercial/industrial arco. Outside of the big three, several vertical suburbs rose, foothills to the arco mountains. Bel Ridge, Huntleigh, and Pagedale were gleaming constructs of high tensile glass and synthsteel, with the only real difference between the residents of these favelas and the arcos was a minor issue of Federation citizenship versus regional residency. There was even a rail circuit that connected these sectors with the arcos themselves, because hourly employees and lower level managers didn't always have the money, political connections, or the citizenship to stay in the arco.

OOC - A little Starship Troopers for the crew, Service guarantees Citizenship.

Almost half a dozen other sectors filled out the easily overlooked, easily forgotten verticle burbs full of easily overlooked, easily forgotten people. But at the bottom, there are three sectors that stand out, and not in a good way. Fenton, Echo Park, and Creve Couer. These sectors of the greater Arco San Louis compose the worst edge of the favelas, and the undercity. These sections are partitioned off from the greater city by a combination of 'firewalls', security checkpoints, and a lack of mass transit into the areas.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#71

The next few weeks pass without incident, as the mechwarriors and those with family settle into their new homes and living quarters, be they the antiseptically arcology quarters, or the much more culturally and ethnically colored favelas. A prism refracts a rainbow, and the favelas are the rainbows thrown by the mile tall towers. Culture abounds in the shadows of the technocratic elite. Looking down from their lofty perches, the denizens of the arco who can see down into the city only see the smaller towers, and beyond those, the densely packed urban conglomeration that is the slums. They cannot see the little Chinatowns, little Italy, little Ireland (the Irish pub/folk music scene, it's gotten popular) and the variety of other cultural experiments going on. It's safe in the tower, but it can be a bit dull if you're not heavily into CogNet based entertainment. On the streets, it is a lot more dangerous, but it is also a lot more interesting. On the street there are cultural food venders, and people selling fusion foods, corned beef and cabbage eggrolls, soba noodle spaghetti with river fish, and more. The rumor mills are always grinding down in the street, and if someone puts their ear to the pavement they can hear rumblings from the undercity. And the Undercity is where things percolate up.

Derek Cobain is in such a position, and of the mechwarriors of Talon Company, it is Cobain who first notices the graffiti with the seven point red star wearing a seven point gold crown.

This goes largely unworthy of notice, compared to the rabble on the street about locally hot topics. There are people who want Arco San Louis to remain a Federation Free City, and not be connected to any of the national powers that border them. There are people who openly side with Amerikka Command, and they want the entire city to join the AC, be the first reborn American city. And still others have their allegiances to one of the neighboring states. The Great Lakes has the strongest military outside of the Federation, Texas has the most outspoken provincial claim, The free attitude of the city best suits the free politics of the Rocky Mountain Republic, and the cauldron just keeps simmering.

Talon company has other things to consider as well. Coming off of their mission taking out enemy assets in Sector 11, and looking to be involved in a retaliatory strike, they were indeed assigned to the mission, just not in the role they were hoping for. Carlos company was involved in logistics and support for the operation, with the designated role of preventing AC assets from striking at the City Guard as it ran extended patrols. Carlos Company saw zero action throughout the 23 hour mission.

A day after the mission concluded, Talon company was allowed to march in the Victory Parade, but only because their mecha were clean. There are few things more uncomfortable than piloting a mecha while wearing full parade dress uniforms. Most of the squad didn't really know what those things were, but surely they existed out there.

(OOC summary - I do apologize for where I left the game, in lurch, and will strive to keep things moving. Talon company was assigned to a pain in the ass patrol, covering lots of ground, lots of scanning, and not finding anything more interesting than abandoned vehicles, some centuries old, out on the flat, that had long since been stripped for parts. Yes, the CO of Able company had something to do with that. The follow up parade, soviet military style marching mecha and doing aerospace fighter flyovers, was an exercise in biting tongues and formal dress. Dress uniforms, polished shoes, and in the case of the female pilots, full hair and make up. There were several inspections, and compared to the parade march, missions in the field were as well coordinated and planned as children running around on the playground. Everyone should be nice and pissed off by this. Since the parade, Talon Company has been stripped down to four members, with Redshirt and Stormtrooper being reassigned to squads back in their home country of Nigeria. The new fourth is a scruffy looking kid with eyes that look a little too far apart. His name is Cade Gibson, and he keeps to himself.

Plot points:
Discrimination from Able co. CO
New Pilot
Local regional hostilities and sympathies
A potential new gang rising in the city

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#72

Derek took off his gravity boots after his long exercise session - his girlfriend had already left for the day, a hostess at a more upscale restaurant that Cobain hated.

His fists were a little sore, he had unloaded perhaps too much frustration into his punching bag and now his joints were complaining, though Derek himself didn't mind it.

An email from his folks expressed false pride in his appearance in the Parade, though he could easily read between the lines of their continued disapproval of his life choices. Suck it folks.

Truth was, he was disapproving of it himself at this point. What the fuck were they doing leaving this team on the shelf? Some fuckwad CO gets all jealous and now we're on the shit list.

Time to find out more about the competition. Another email, sent this time, and some 'innocent' questions on its way. Derek used more then his muscles in the ring, and so he'd do it now. The email was encrypted of course, his ultrapolitical folks had engrained into him the need for discretion.

Email sent, and Derek stepped into the kitchen for a post-workout meal.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#73

Marsha sighed and tossed the data slate with their new recruits info on the table in disgust, recent events having done little to sour her mood, even the recent weekend with her girlfriend of the month, (they never did stick around for long before chasing after someone more "emotionally available and less committed to their career" she'd long since discovered) had done little to improve her mood.

"My team deserves better than this, a damn sight better!" She yelled to the quiet room, gathering up her service pistol and coat with a second sigh of exasperation, hoping a few relaxing hours at the firing range would serve to sweeten her mood. It was always easier to think when aiming down the sights, be it of a hand gun or the 90mm cannon of her Shadowhawk.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#74

The Sanchez's were settling into their new accommodations in Arco 2, mid tier. It wasn't the best of units, but it was a long way from the slums they had lived in before. Antonio, Maxine's father, still made the long commute from the arco, through security, and back out into the favelas. The business was out there, and that was where the money was coming from. He inquired if Maxine might need some 'grease' to help her out, because if she did, he might have some he'd been saving up. Things were also looking up because some of that money was translated into a pair of household servitor droids, one of which was programmed for mid level ethnic cooking. It had been a long time some Maxine's mother had done something as rustic as making the flatbread like she had done when Maxine and her siblings were just children running in the street. There was still that sense of unease, though. Maxine had long been the pillar that held up the family with her father was away on business... And he was away on business, and Maxine was on active duty. Her mother was mostly just glad that the entire family was together.

Jose still lived out in the favelas, the better part, away from the regular violence and crime in the undercity, but it was still a long commute from either the barracks or her unit in the arco to go see him. But the food, company, and alcohol were a little less manufactured out there, made the trip worth it when she was off duty or had long periods of leave.

*****

The life of a playgirl mecha pilot can be a whirlwind. With her open sexuality and parade of girlfriends, Marsha found herself being invited to some local parties hosted by the upper crust residents of the arco. There was a certain novelty to having an honest to goodness professional pilot at the soirees that wasn't a preening socialite. She could find some favors here, if she was willing to pursue them. Some of the members of the other squads were present, and Marsha was or might be surprised to learn that most of the people in the upper circles knew that Alpha squad was a social promotion unit, sent out to look good and get medals so the well connected sons and daughters of business magnates, government and administration based families, and the outright wealthy who wanted to buy their commissions could stair step up to higher offices without even being put in harms way.

*****

One of the people that Cobain messaged responded with a discrete 'Let's discuss this in person,' and gave a location to meet, an out of the way bar in the upper portion of the arco, close to the CogNet array. Derek knew that the EM noise generated by the systems there would render remote observation all but worthless.

All he had to do was get to the Elysian Fields Room in Arco 1

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#75

"Gracias mama." Maxine said and took a churro. She leaned back in the sofa and contemplated recent events. Had her career stagnated? First the sudden promotion, and now she was back to babysitting rookies, overseeing cargo and paving the way for the rich kids. Still, she played nice and spoke with her family, shared in their daily struggles and commiserated for a good while. Her father was working late again it seemed. She donned her civilian leather jacket and said good bye to her family.

-

She boarded the mag lev to the poorer parts of the favelas, and from there passed the old derelict toll booth station down into the Undercity, her old neighborhood. There was always going to be people jealous of those who made it up into the world, but they knew her here. Her old watering hole, El Canejo Blanco beckoned. She had brought her squad here that first night after they met, it certainly hadn't been what they had expected, but after the initial and unavoidable fights, they too were grudgingly welcome here. She hoped to find one of them again here now, if for no other reason than to have someone to complain to, but if not, her old friends would provide.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#76

Maxine's trip to El Canejo Blanco had to take several detours, at least one block of the undercity was cordoned off and there were several hazmat and clean up teams working, in their green-gold vests. A few were equipped with hardsuits, and were clearing rubble. A pair of EMT droids stared blankly ahead, waiting for the call if there were injured to tend. There were fire scorch marks on the material being pulled down, but to her military eye, the patterns weren't structural fire marks, but were the sort of sooty rorschach blotches that flamethrowers makes.

El CB was busy when she arrived, and there was a quiet hanging over the main room. People were talking, and there was music, but no one was laughing, and it didn't seem like anyone was about to get into a fight. There were a few people there she knew, and they waved at her when they recognized her.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#77

Marsha smiled at the party invitation flickering on her display screen, an opportunity for fun, and perhaps a chance to increase her lances standing in the eyes of certain influential members of higher society, even better if she could convince her lance leader to accompany her as her +1 and rub elbows (or more) with some of the prominent regulars.

With a click of a few keys she forwarded the invitation to Maxine's comlink along with few personal words of explanation and encouragement , deciding to head down to Maxine's favorite dive on the off chance she might run into her in person, and perhaps talk her into attending, if the initial invitation wasn't enough to whet her appetite.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#78

Derek got up to leave, throwing on his lightly armoured jacket. He made a point of carrying his fighting knife and a slug-thrower as well.

Ready, he made off for the meeting.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#79

Maxine walked up to a table comprised of familiar faces and nodded as greeting as she scooted in with them. "¿Cómo va Rixx? What's up with the hazmat team outside? They "cleaned up" another protesters group?"

She ignored the bleeps of her comlink, and casually turned it off while letting her old friends update her on local events, had it been important the sound would have been different. Her eyes scanned the room, from the broken down old jukebox with a small holo-player on top playing http://bit.ly/QlnazV, to the wall where so many regulars had carved their names with the pocket knife that even now sat stuck into said wall, her squad's names were there now as well, much more recently carved than her own of course. The ceiling fans with an accompanying snake's nest of wires hanging from the ceiling hummed familiarly over the turned down sounds of the holo-player which seemed to beat in tune with the pulsating broken neon sign proclaiming Fiesta. And of course, the namesake of the bar, the dusty old stuffed rabbit that sat above the bar desk, all of which spoke of comfort to her, this, more so than her own place was home. She leaned back and shared in a laugh, with Manno's arm on her shoulders. They too were family, family she had left behind, but never forgotten. She had moved up, but she would not forget.

Re: [Operation One] Cosmic Era Mecha Game

#80

Marsha entered the bar casually, tugging briefly at the hem of her skirt and glancing around for a familiar face, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she spotted Maxine, seemingly having a relaxing afternoon with her friends, perfect; she hated drinking alone, it always sent the wrong message, and the company she attracted, especially in places like this, were rarely interested in conversation.

With a polite nod to the bar tender she headed over to Maxine's table, giving her a warm smile as she approached, knowing exactly how to make a positive introduction to the few strangers. "Maxine, just the person I was looking for, let me buy you and your friends a drink, it's too nice an afternoon to drink alone."