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SIGSEGV posted:Mechanical jump booster are basically a combat version of those clown shoes with spring soles, right? Because I'm pretty sure they are and I can't not imagine the poor things going *SPROING* *SPROING* *SPROING* all over the place. Looking this up led me down a rabbit hole that ended in me discovering the existence of quadrupedal battle armor. Despite Sarna's claims that one pilot can totally fit in a small cockpit inside, I'm picturing them like a two-man horse costume covered in guns.
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Dec 21, 2017 21:40
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Dachshundofdoom posted:Looking this up led me down a rabbit hole that ended in me discovering the existence of quadrupedal battle armor. Despite Sarna's claims that one pilot can totally fit in a small cockpit inside, I'm picturing them like a two-man horse costume covered in guns. Trials of Position to determine who has to be the butt
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Dec 21, 2017 21:42
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Dachshundofdoom posted:Looking this up led me down a rabbit hole that ended in me discovering the existence of quadrupedal battle armor. Despite Sarna's claims that one pilot can totally fit in a small cockpit inside, I'm picturing them like a two-man horse costume covered in guns. Honestly it's not really battle armor at all. It's more like those little tiny submarines, but on land and with guns.
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Dec 21, 2017 22:18
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Quad armor is dumb. The whole point of BA is to juxtapose an agile armored figure with the lumbering battlemechs, which you can't do by putting some dude in a cramped little cockpit. BA should be the thing that makes mechs afraid of going into urban terrain, because at any moment a team of these guys could come smashing out of a few windows and start cutting into a cockpit.
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Dec 21, 2017 23:33
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Its really a guy sitting in a Big Dog robot
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Dec 21, 2017 23:36
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wiegieman posted:Quad armor is dumb. The whole point of BA is to juxtapose an agile armored figure with the lumbering battlemechs, which you can't do by putting some dude in a cramped little cockpit. BA should be the thing that makes mechs afraid of going into urban terrain, because at any moment a team of these guys could come smashing out of a few windows and start cutting into a cockpit. Most quads are either anti-infantry platforms, scouts (they've usually got a higher ground speed), or mount something big like an ER Medium Laser And no matter what anyone else makes, they can all take solace in the fact that nothing will ever look as stupid as the Tortoise II Battle Armor. The Republic of the Sphere forgot to give the Tortoise II back legs, and just slapped a couple of big wheels on its rear end PoptartsNinja fucked around with this message at 00:20 on Dec 22, 2017 |
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Dec 22, 2017 00:16
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PoptartsNinja posted:It's a few decades off, but... 'Mech? Battle Armor even makes sense for the Horses. Let's make that PTN-canon then.
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Dec 22, 2017 00:31
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PoptartsNinja posted:Most quads are either anti-infantry platforms, scouts (they've usually got a higher ground speed), or mount something big like an ER Medium Laser I definitely like how they went out of their way to differentiate them in play-style from standard BA. It's like they went for a mulligan on Quad mechs. I think quads would be more than "standard mechs, but worse" if they had a few more gimmicks to differentiate them like quad BA have. Defiance Industries fucked around with this message at 02:01 on Dec 22, 2017 |
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Dec 22, 2017 01:58
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Defiance Industries posted:I definitely like how they went out of their way to differentiate them in play-style from standard BA. It's like they went for a mulligan on Quad mechs. I think quads would be more than "standard mechs, but worse" if they had a few more gimmicks to differentiate them like quad BA have. Quad 'Mechs getting an extra Walk MP (which isn't exactly what Quad BA get, they just get cheaper MP increases) would go a long drat way.
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Dec 22, 2017 02:06
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Strobe posted:Quad 'Mechs getting an extra Walk MP (which isn't exactly what Quad BA get, they just get cheaper MP increases) would go a long drat way. Should it be an extra walk MP or run MP? For example, would you rather play a quad that goes 4/7 or 5/6 over a regular 4/6 Mech of equal tonnage?
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Dec 22, 2017 02:34
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anakha posted:Should it be an extra walk MP or run MP? The way Walk MP increases are calculated would mean it goes 5/8, not 5/6 And I would use it to build 6/9 100-tonners
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Dec 22, 2017 02:43
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anakha posted:Should it be an extra walk MP or run MP? What Defiance Industries said. Walk MP always recalculates Run MP, so a (for example) 6/9 Scorpion would suddenly be 7/11. My personal favorite quad the Jaguar would be a 9/14. That sounds like a good world to live in.
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Dec 22, 2017 02:48
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Yeah, but you're changing the rules anyway. Just break the fuckers.
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Dec 22, 2017 02:54
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So. The Draconis Suns just absorbed all of Hell's Horses territory, technology, pilots and machines. A dark sun rises!
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Dec 22, 2017 06:33
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They're gonna need it to fight the Capellans droid mech armies. And other clans I guess.
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Dec 22, 2017 06:43
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RA Rx posted:So. Siedman only bid the forces on Luthien
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Dec 22, 2017 06:54
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Really, getting the forces on Luthien is a nice boon for the DracSuns, but the biggest thing that happened is the death of the ilKhan, which means now the clans all have to convene to figure out who's the new ilKhan. In the normal timeline, this stopped the invasion dead in its tracks while the clans punched eachother in the taint to figure out who was the taintiest of all, and I can't see the AU clans being much different. It's going to be a very interesting after action report from this.
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Dec 22, 2017 09:53
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Keru posted:Really, getting the forces on Luthien is a nice boon for the DracSuns, but the biggest thing that happened is the death of the ilKhan, which means now the clans all have to convene to figure out who's the new ilKhan. In the normal timeline, this stopped the invasion dead in its tracks while the clans punched eachother in the taint to figure out who was the taintiest of all, and I can't see the AU clans being much different. That was Lair Siedman, years ago. Pretty sure the current ilKhan is noted figurehead Asa Hellion (formerly Taney). Assuming the saKhan of the Hell's Horses wasn't on Luthien, the rest of the clan will keep on fighting as if nothing happened. dis astranagant fucked around with this message at 10:33 on Dec 22, 2017 |
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Dec 22, 2017 10:22
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Oh man, that's true, I completely forgot that happened. To be fair, that was a couple years ago now in real time, isn't it?
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Dec 22, 2017 11:37
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Keru posted:Really, getting the forces on Luthien is a nice boon for the DracSuns, but the biggest thing that happened is the death of the ilKhan, which means now the clans all have to convene to figure out who's the new ilKhan. In the normal timeline, this stopped the invasion dead in its tracks while the clans punched eachother in the taint to figure out who was the taintiest of all, and I can't see the AU clans being much different. Natasha Kerensky is the ilKhan Asa Taney is the Anti
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Dec 22, 2017 12:12
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PoptartsNinja posted:Natasha Kerensky is the ilKhan There is no hope for reKhanciliation.
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Dec 22, 2017 14:01
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It's kind of like matter and anti-matter. They Khancel each other out
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Dec 22, 2017 15:38
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mercenarynuker posted:It's kind of like matter and anti-matter. They Khancel each other out Appropriately, the process is known as "Annihilation". I mean, before it happens, they form a Khanate, which is unstable. And it's supposed to produce an immense explosion. And a variety of exotic story-lines.
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Dec 22, 2017 18:06
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painedforever posted:Appropriately, the process is known as "Annihilation". I mean, before it happens, they form a Khanate, which is unstable. Lots of Dark age matter then.
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Dec 22, 2017 18:51
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All the WIMPs are expelled from the area violently
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Dec 22, 2017 21:50
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Fuzzy Mammal posted:All the WIMPs are expelled from the area violently and placed into the Scientist Caste
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Dec 22, 2017 22:10
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DivineCoffeeBinge posted:and placed into the Scientist Caste Septs and Treys and Uns, oh my!!
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Dec 22, 2017 22:33
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Why didn't Grier just gamble his entire clan if he wanted more of them to survive? Edit: That actually makes the Clans more normal. RA Rx fucked around with this message at 03:51 on Dec 24, 2017 |
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Dec 24, 2017 00:16
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Because he's not stupid, he wagered the warriors under his direct command in this battle as well as the civilians they're protecting. The four Galaxies on Luthien are still something like 60% of the Hell's Horses forces. Any of the offworld leaders aren't going to feel beholden to this loss, but by ensuring the survival of most of the Touman he's making sure the Draconis Suns has access to people who can tell them how to take the rest. Knowing there's no support and no chance of rescue or relief also forces those same field commanders to negotiate loss terms, and even if they all choose to die (not a foregone conclusion) enough of the Horses' leadership is intact to make the transition of power fairly bloodless. VVV Pretty much that, yeah. Besides which, thanks to the Steel Vipers and their allies they're already aware that a Second Crusade is coming to kill them all. PoptartsNinja fucked around with this message at 00:33 on Dec 24, 2017 |
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Dec 24, 2017 00:27
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So while the forces not on Luthien aren't obligated to join the majority of their clan here, is it likely that a large portion of them will still defect?
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Dec 24, 2017 00:29
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Did we ever see anything on whether Hanse took the invitation to join the Star League?
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Dec 24, 2017 02:18
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Now that the two weeks of hell (and my move) is basically over, expect the political vote either today or tomorrow. Probably tonight, but I could still theoretically pass out or something. Also, I was able to lay a little groundwork for something I'm rather pleased about.
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Dec 30, 2017 23:09
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Gun Jam opted for a special vote here for winning the guessing game! Political Vote “It’s hard to believe it’s over.” “It isn’t, I suspect,” the rotund young Chandrasekhar Kurita replied. He was flanked on either side by a pair of curvaceous woman-bodyguards who at first seemed present solely so the wealthy electronics baron could show off. To the average Kuritan socialite—and undoubtedly many of the high-ranking officers present—they would simply be dismissed out of hand. “Uncle Chandy” was a known letch who was rarely seen without a woman or two (or six) at his side. To a more attentive eye, the way their sharply-pressed paramilitary uniforms moved around their “curves” suggested their costumes had been fitted over functional body armor rather than natural voluptuousness. Likewise, the Nambu autopistols they wore in plain, functional quick-draw holsters looked both well-serviced and frequently used. Shakir Jerrar stood at ease, his face an emotionless mask that well hid his surprise. Chandrasekhar Kurita was a dignitary, important to the realm, and perhaps the only Kurita who could regularly claim to speak in Hanse Davion’s ear. Shakir, meanwhile, was nobody. Men would (and probably did) kill to find themselves in earshot of one of the wealthiest men in the Draconis Combine, and Shakir Jerrar had found himself there by accident. “Isn’t it?” He asked plainly. There was no sense in clamming up, or feigning shyness. He’d spoken and he wouldn’t pretend he’d done otherwise. “The Hell’s Horses have given themselves up en masse with the death of their leader. It’s over save for the executions, if the Warlords have their way.” “There will be no executions,” Chandrasekhar Kurita laughed. “I’ve not spoken with the Coordinator-Prince, but I doubt I am mistaken. The Hell’s Horses surrender is genuine, most have already sworn personal allegiance to Hanse Davion and his line. Although,” the fat man paused slyly, “I hear some have sworn themselves to ‘the leader of the forces who killed the Khan,’ to the young Robert Korean personally. I suspect he’ll need at least a planet to afford to keep them all. I wonder what he’ll do,” Chandrasekhar made no indication whether ‘he’ referred to Robert Korean or Hanse Davion, “with a force of armed fanatics at his beck and call. No, this isn’t over.” Chandrasekhar Kurita’s scowl was frightening, his beady eyes looked black as coal in the fading light. “If nothing else, Grier Seidman’s last message made one thing is clear: the Hell’s Horses are joining us for their protection. What does that suggest to you?” Shakir blanched. “That worse is coming.” “Worse is already here. Last year, four Clans invaded the Inner Sphere. Serpent, spider, scorpion, and horse.” Chandrasekhar drummed his pudgy fingers together. “Four of twenty. Five, if you count the Falcon who even how has begun to plague us—but with the loss of the Horses the Falcon advance has fallen into complete disarray.” “It only took one Clan to take Luthien,” Shakir said darkly. The temptation to rub his thin Van Dyke beard was intense, but he held his at-ease posture, and maintained his composure as best he could. “Why tell me this? If this news gets out, it could demoralize the entire DCMS.” “One Clan took Luthien,” Chandrasekhar agreed, “but could not hold it. This will be public knowledge soon enough. You may consider me curious what the general reaction of the soldiery will be.” “May,” Shakir picked out after a moment. “Not ‘must?’” Chandrasekhar’s wide smile never reached his cold, hard eyes. “You’re a sharp one. You’ll go far. Tell me: what do you think about the troops from the Federated Suns?” “Their officers are braggarts, but the bulk of them work hard. They know their duty and serve, as do we all.” Chandrasekhar rolled his head back, cocking it to one side—or at least, attempting to. “Is that admiration I hear?” “No,” Shakir replied. “Simply observation. We are very different, they are under-disciplined and attempt to make up that deficiency with enthusiasm, teamwork, or even just bluster. I work with them because I must, but they are not like us.” “You are not the only one who believes this,” Chandrasekhar Kurita replied, as though the revelation was a significant one. “Ah, look! The show is starting!” ************************************************************ PTN’s Note: Activate Clan Reading Enhancement Implant Hanse Davion was not a large man, although the ten-story holotank at his back certainly made him seem so. His empty hands came to rest on the wood of a marble lectern emblazoned with the sword-and-dragon symbol of the Draconis Suns. Cool blue eyes stared out from ‘classically’ noble features. Hanse kept himself in reasonable shape, but calling him barrel-shaped would only be the slightest exaggeration. “Soldiers of the Draconis Suns,” he began in measured tones, giving the Japanese, Swedenese, and Sign Language translators on his flanks an opportunity to do their jobs. “We—you—have won a great victory today, albeit not the one any of us expected. I would claim that I have never served among a finer bunch of soldiers, but this is simply not true: I’ve served alongside you—or fought against you—since before I became Prince of the Federated Suns, and I will continue to serve you and serve alongside you until the day I die. And so I say to each and every one of you: thank you. Those responsible for our victory will be honored—and I wish I could thank each and every one of you in person: to show you the honor you all deserve. Instead I must leave that privilege to your commanders, and your commanders’ commanders, and trust that they will see to it that you are all recognized for your courage and dedication.” “The Draconis Suns is at a perilous crossroads,” Hanse cautioned. “In our victory today, we have deprived ourselves of the source of our unity: a common enemy to fight side by side. How long,” he asked rhetorically, “until we once again fight amongst ourselves as even now the traitor Duke Hasek and his ilk desire? This cannot be.” “This cannot be,” he reiterated. “But in working alongside you, in seeing the Draconis Combine for myself, I have come to a realization: My Federated Suns and your Draconis Combine are too different, the internal stresses too great, the politics too tangled for any man to navigate. If nothing is done, the Draconis Suns is doomed—” A cry of ‘no, no!’ rose up from the assembled crowd. Hanse waited a few moments, then held up his hands to forestall the protest. “It is true, but all is not lost. Many of the paths that lay ahead of us lead to our destruction, but one remains clear and free. With Luthien free from invaders’ hands I would not subject the people of the Draconis Combine to another lengthy occupation by forces who do not understand your ways.” “I hereby dissolve the Draconis Suns, and relinquish the title of Coordinator of the Draconis Combine. As my last act as Coordinator-Prince, I present the title of Coordinator to the one most deserving: Isoroku Kurita, please step forward.” Gun Jam Special Vote A) Voluntarily break up the Draconis Suns, elevate Isoroku Kurita as Coordinator of the Draconis Combine Resplendent in his dress uniform and with his eyes wide in shock, Isoroku Kurita approached the podium. He shook his head, seeming to say something in protest that the microphones did not pick up. Hanse offered his hand. Isoroku Kurita regarded it in silence, his expression bitter as if he’d just been offered a steaming glass of horse urine. He squeezed his eyes shut and after a moment steeled his face in resignation and shook Hanse Davion’s hand. “Coordinator Isoroku Kurita, the champion of Luthien, shall lead the Draconis Combine into the future. But the Draconis Combine shall not walk this path alone, the Federated Suns shall walk alongside you—not as rivals, but as friends and allies. With Coordinator Kurita’s blessing, our officer exchanges will continue, and our borders will remain free and open to trade any and all goods save those both nations agree should be contraband. For too long the only thing our relations with the Draconis Combine and the Federated Suns has enriched is our graveyards.” “It’s high time we thought about enriching our people, and turned the energy we’ve spent fighting one another to more productive use. We have seen what we can accomplish when we work together, and as my first official act as Prince of the Federated Suns, I would like to propose both an alliance and mutual defense pact to my counterpart in the Draconis Combine. Let those who would strike either of our realms beware our combined might!” “As my second act, I would propose the creation of a neutral corridor between our two nations, in which both the Federated Suns and Draconis Combine may gather resources freely. To manage this picket line, and enforce neutrality from those nobles who would otherwise be more than happy to resume squabbling before we even have the symbols on our BattleMechs repainted, I propose that management of this zone will be the duty a council containing interested parties from both sides of the border, as well as the Hell’s Horses who shall act as neutral arbiters and enforcers. This, alongside cultural and scientific exchanges, and military service shall be the Hell’s Horses penance for participating in the invasion.” Hanse’s eyes narrowed, “The Hell’s Horses will have a home. They may not be the best worlds in the Inner Sphere, but the Hell’s Horses have proven themselves to be strong and resilient, and if anyone in the Inner Sphere can restore the old factories, it is them. In return the Hell’s Horses shall have a degree of autonomy, although they shall also be sworn to defend their new home, and to serve the Federated Suns and Draconis Combine in equal measure.” “Over time,” he continued, “it is my hope that the gap between our two nations will close. As trade spreads, ideas and ideals spread with it. The Federated Suns and Draconis Combine can grow together naturally, and perhaps someday centuries from now, we can become the Draconis Suns once more—a stable realm, made up of desperate people who nonetheless understand and respect one another.” “You have all made me proud,” Hanse finished. “Soldiers and civilians alike. You have all struggled and toiled under the harshest of circumstances, and it is thanks to you that we have persevered. It is because of this, that I do not make this decision alone. Coordinator Kurita, what say you to my proposal?” After a moment, Isoroku leaned closer to the directional microphone and croaked “Agreed” in accented English. After a moment to clear his throat, he offered Hanse Davion a deep and respectful bow. “There will be hardships. There will be troubles, there will be fighting, but the people of the Draconis S—Combine shall walk into the future alongside our friends in the Federated Suns.” ************************************************************ “Now only one question remains,” Isoroku Kurita sat heavily on the tatami brought in for that purpose. Strange as it was, Hanse had requested a hole cut in the floor so that he might sit at Isoroku’s level without towering over the man by using a chair. Not seeing the immediate purpose, the once-fine artistwork contained within the Imperial Palace on Luthien had been stripped and looted by the Hell’s Horses. Some, Isoroku believed, would be recoverable—but he knew some of the palace’s majesty would be lost forever. “Only one?” Hanse asked wearily. “I have more than I can count. Not the least of which: can we convince ComStar to establish a direct HPG circuit between New Avalon and Luthien? That would expedite communications tenfold and help stave off our descendants’ inevitable misunderstandings.” “Only one immediate question,” Isoroku replied. His brown eyes settled on the only other man in the room. Dressed in the finest kimono the Draconis Combine could buy, Robert Korean’s splendor was marred only by his nervousness. He was a simple and honorable man, Isoroku thought, who must have felt ill-at-ease sitting as if he was on equal terms with two of the Inner Sphere’s leaders. Isoroku inclined his head in a slight bow. “The hero of the hour. You are a son of the Draconis Combine, but a hero to the Federated Suns. If you choose to remain here, you shall live out your days in luxury—you will have your pick of brides, of this I am certain, many aspiring noble families would love to adopt you as their own. They would use you, of course, but you would want for nothing the Draconis Combine might offer.” Isoroku paused, “It would be a selfish choice, but one that none would fault you for. However, there is another path open to you: you may become the Draconis Combine’s goodwill ambassador to the Federated Suns. You are a hero to both sides, and going to live on New Avalon you would exemplify our faithfulness. The Draconis Combine would be reluctant to launch any sort of strike while the Khan Slayer is being entertained by Prince Hanse Davion, the Savior of Luthien. You would continue to serve the Dragon, but you would be in an alien land, in a culture that may be profoundly uncomfortable to you.” “There is a third option,” Hanse Davion offered after only a moment. “The Draconis Combine needs an immediate representative in the Hell’s Horses reservation. Someone who knows them, and knows the combine. The Hell’s Horses your team did not kill all swore themselves to you, personally. As I recall, one of them bears the name of their Khan: is she not possibly Grier Siedman’s heir? You could serve both nations by keeping the Hell’s Horses in check, and making sure they rule their reservation worlds with justice in mind. They respect you, and you know more about them than any of us.” Isoroku nodded after a moment, seeing the wisdom in that. “The choice is yours, Korean Robert. Whatever you choose, I am certain great fortune will come to you.” Does Robert Korean: A) Remain in the Draconis Combine B) Become a goodwill ambassador to the Federated Suns C) Become Warlord of the Hell’s Horses Reservation (Hell’s Corridor) TheParadigm and Goatface, please send me your choices for ‘Mech names! If you really can’t pick a ‘Mech that needs one, let me know and I can assign you one I’d like to see named. Raverrn and jng2058 same, I just need the second place winners first! PoptartsNinja fucked around with this message at 04:55 on Dec 31, 2017 |
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Dec 31, 2017 00:53
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C With Hasek finally out there's room for another house to rise, and that's HOUSE ROBERT.
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Dec 31, 2017 01:03
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Oh poo poo. C
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Dec 31, 2017 01:07
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C You kill it you buy it.
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Dec 31, 2017 01:11
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I guess C. We might as well go full retard and burn this motherfucker to the ground.
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Dec 31, 2017 01:22
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C
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Dec 31, 2017 01:27
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C absolutely. On a wave of fantastic dice rolls, let's see how high we can raise Korean Robert.
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Dec 31, 2017 01:34
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C on the condition that he gets to take the office chair with him. Let it be a lesson to the Hell's Horses, to understand where their new leader came from.
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Dec 31, 2017 01:42
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