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Post by 白龍 on Jun 3, 2016 16:46:46 GMT -8
Yes, we know that is Alice with hindsight. Without hindsight, they may as well be different characters. Whether or not his is a strawman's argument, this is a take it at face value argument. Without reading more into depth, this is what we have. Perhaps big bad isn't the right word then. The one that took the spotlight as our main enemy certainly did change. No - that is again a strawman argument and so is trying to claim it a "face-value argument"; quite honestly, that's bullshit to me. They are the same character - their personalities, their history, their backgrounds; those DID NOT CHANGE. "Without reading more into depth", that is how it is and that does not change simply because we know Alice's true name. No - no it really didn't. It was the same person it was in MoA - the only thing that changed was the name, and that alone changes nothing. You're trying to take semantics and make it seem like some big definition that isn't there, and fighting over it is derailing from what the original point was; that an character being just dropped on us all of a sudden like Kuushana is simply isn't a very good way to introduce a new antagonist. You can get away with that in introductory games where everything is still being established, but not this far in the game so to speak. Hm, again. It's only the se- third episode. There's presumably going to be many, many more bosses in the future. Having one dropped on us is as sudden as a new boss dropping in on episode 7. Edit: Note, anytime you start using any cursory language with me on a topic, I will immediately drop it.
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Post by 白龍 on Jun 3, 2016 15:51:46 GMT -8
I did not mean Alice, I meant the "Arcadius" that was shot by Fontana. And considering the amount of time we knew Alice to be Alice, which did not happen until LD, it's still relatively little screen time. On second thought... Each arc seems to have their own big bad. In FA, it was that chubby red-mustached person whose name I can't recall. In MoA, the big bad was Arcadius. In LD, it was Alice. And now in XXX, it's Kuushana. That IS "Alice" - that is who Arcadius was behind the mask. It is the same character by a different name. So yes, we did have plenty of screen-time with her - we learned she was ruthless, pragmatic, clever and a fanatic. You're basically giving me a strawman argument here - it's the same as saying we simply never got to know this character period. Which hurt her development. That's the same for Kuushana. No - the "big bad" in MoA and LibDay never changed. Only the title we knew her by. Yes, we know that is Alice with hindsight. Without hindsight, they may as well be different characters. Whether or not his is a strawman's argument, this is a take it at face value argument. Without reading more into depth, this is what we have. Perhaps big bad isn't the right word then. The one that took the spotlight as our main enemy certainly did change.
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Post by 白龍 on Jun 3, 2016 2:24:43 GMT -8
Oh! Oh! I wanted to make a thread on this but ended up didn't. Hold on, I had a word document on this. Gimmie a sec. .. ...
" Typos! Post the typos you found here! “He marched out of the sickbay, a mischievous grin plastered all of his face...”
Right before the scene where Shields is rescued by Ava and are now talking in Lifepod 15. It said T-minu 46 hours before the Liberation Day Massacre, 10 hours until Chigara enters the mind stream. Right after, it says T-minus 50 hours before the Liberation Day Massacre, 14 hours until Chigara enters the mind stream.
“Shields could hear Sola’s raspy breathes behind him.”
“Sola ran to him, concern for Shield’s health the only thing in their eyes.”
“An enormous cavern of steel, surrounded by all sides by enormous spires.”
Alice: “But this is where you mission ends!”
Past Kato: “Good. Begin sortie immediately! The map filling up with red all around us.”
“All of the Paladins’ missile pods opened, sending streams of smoke spiraling outwards. The Ascendant numbly dodged through the missiles. The missiles which did impact put nary a scratch the ancient ryder’s frame.”
“Ava faced palmed.”
“In the end... I think she would be proud. She will always be remembered as the savior the galaxy.” "
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Post by 白龍 on Jun 3, 2016 1:28:32 GMT -8
I don't think Kuushana's entry was sudden at all, it was relatively smooth. We've just reach the halfway point and all we did was toss one big bad with little screen time and replaced it with another big bad with little screen time. We're only two episodes in, if we went any faster then I'd feel like we've been rushing through it. Respectfully, I completely disagree - considering the position she's coming into and the supposed history she has both with the PACT main characters and her apparent status as a war-legend, it didn't feel smooth in the slightest; it felt very abrupt. And no, Alice was not in fact "one big bad with little screen time" since she was present since FA - rather, I think she was a big bad with little (in-game) BACKSTORY, which is arguably a far worse state for a character to be in. Especially when you're trying to push them into such a pivotal position. Also, I think LibDay is technically the third episode - First Arrival and Mask of Arcadius count more as the first and second. I did not mean Alice, I meant the "Arcadius" that was shot by Fontana. And considering the amount of time we knew Alice to be Alice, which did not happen until LD, it's still relatively little screen time. On second thought... Each arc seems to have their own big bad. In FA, it was that chubby red-mustached person whose name I can't recall. In MoA, the big bad was Arcadius. In LD, it was Alice. And now in XXX, it's Kuushana.
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Post by 白龍 on Jun 2, 2016 18:22:12 GMT -8
I don't think everything needs foreshadowing. Just be made consistent with what has been established before. For example, I disliked Alice beause how her presence lead to the original Arcadius being completely trashed in LD. Even if Arcadius was but a mask, not even an attempt was made to salvage his character. But Kuushana, I didn't feel so bad about because there was no need in the narrative for her to be mentioned and she hasn't done anything to cause problems yet. You could even argue that such characters popping up was inevitable if Fontana was to really overthrow Arcadius, since it's been clearly implied that Arcadius' PACT was not the same as what it started from. Cullen, a former imperialist, being a good proof of this. That being said, the infodump sucked though, that I agree. Not so sure about the Ryuvian DNA though, might be more related to some function of the Nightmare Ascendant as there is no reason for Alice not to have awakened inside the Sunrider in [RE]turn otherwise. Ditto for Asaga; I'm more inclined to view what happened with her as simply part of the script than as part of any actual objective on the prototypes' part. How would they know if Asaga was qualified to awaken if they didn't already have her DNA? The Ryuvian bloodline is said to be very diluted by now. Besides, if they really wanted subjects, I'd assume that there were other targets more readily available than the bloody crown princess of the nation.
Well, thinking about it, the most likely explanation I'd attribute it to would be founder effect and the formation of a new colonial identity that probably related to their skin colour. Interesting to think about how ethnicity and race works as distinctions between social groups would work in this universe. I don't think a concept of ethnicity will disappear any time soon though- physical features are one of the easiest ways to identify groups, and even if developing communications and transportation technology make everything grow tighter together, the scale of things would also continuously be expanded, making it moot. The issue with that though is that we're expected to take Kuushana as pretty much Arcadius's REPLACEMENT as the driving force behind PACT's military - there is a very dire "need in the narrative for her to be mentioned" purely BECAUSE she hasn't been mentioned or even referenced once, yet she's supposed to be a legendary figure among PACT with fame matching that of Arcadius and Fontana. Even though we didn't know Fontana was going to overthrow Arcadius in the beginning, he was still set up in FA as being clever, courteous and moral simply by the small interaction he had with Asaga - there was something in the beginning from which we could see the progression of his character and understand how he'd inevitably conflict with the amoral methods Arcadius used. If this was some new PACT underling or some other random no-name Veniczar that was being made Fontana's second or the like, I would have agreed with your assessment, but Kuushana's pretty much being tossed at us as the new PACT lead (or at the very least the co-lead) who's supposedly as big a legend as Arcadius was if her title was "Kuushana of the Many Miracles". It's true that not everything needs foreshadowing, but this isn't everything - it's a specific role that's being filled by a character we knew nothing about if we didn't get the Patreon-exclusive novel, who is supposedly legendary yet we've heard not so much as a peep about in-game. For this specific instance, it feels like dropping the ball when it comes to introducing a character. As for Alice, the reason I have this theory is based on her dialouge in [RE]Turn, where she hints to the idea that she gained Awakening from the emotional turmoil she experienced in the Compact Revolution the same as Asaga did at Far Port and Helion. That points to it being something closer to a blood-trait she already had.
Also, I point out that Alice is the only surviving Prototype out of the original generation - all the others were made after her, including Alpha, so it's possible they (save Alpha) were diluted too far to have it, or perhaps even intentionally barred from it so that the power remained with the "most pure." Alice and possibly Alpha may simply be the only ones with pure enough genes to Awaken.
As for Asaga, - again, that's WHY they would have had Chigara monitor her; to see if she WAS qualified and observe her growth. Also, may I point out that because of Ryuvia's devolved status and Asaga seemingly being the ONLY daughter of the royal family (remember, Sharr's are Warrior Princesses - as in girls only?), there is pretty much NOBODY ELSE besides the bloody crown princess of the nation. Besides, if they wanted to reclaim Ryuvia and it's secrets, they'd need the Royal Family under their thumb to begin with regardless, and they would be the only ones to go to in rediscovering lost Ryuvian tech, so there's already nobody else to go to. Think of it like this - if the Prototypes were cloned from ancient samples, a fresh living one would be unquestionably more pure no matter how diluted it is over the generations (and it's obviously not been enough considering the strength of Asaga's awakening is impressive even to an ancient like Sola), so of course the genetics from that would be better for use once she "matures". I don't think Kuushana's entry was sudden at all, it was relatively smooth. We've just reach the halfway point and all we did was toss one big bad with little screen time and replaced it with another big bad with little screen time. We're only two episodes in, if we went any faster then I'd feel like we've been rushing through it.
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Post by 白龍 on Jun 2, 2016 9:46:16 GMT -8
If I recall correctly, if you find one of the posts, it contains a table of contents to all of the other chapters. Unfortunately, I am not actively involved with the Veniczar novel because it was contracted out to another author who's been MIA as of late so I dunno what'll happen to it... Maybe I can dream of a NVL adaption. Heh. A visual novel adaption of a novel adaption of a visual novel's backstory...
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Post by 白龍 on Jun 1, 2016 19:49:23 GMT -8
Is there actually a collection of links for the Veniczar novel or do I have to scroll all the way down. It seems tedious to scroll through so many pages to find the posts...
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Post by 白龍 on Jun 1, 2016 13:45:20 GMT -8
You're arguing for the game to be more like reality, when it is clearly a game written in a medium that was created to help insecure Japanese men jerk off. D'aw, don't be so harsh. Sure, VNs had their humble beginnings, but I don't think anyone is playing Sunrider to primarily jerk off... ... Right folks? Oh god. I'm not sure I actually want to hear the answer now.
On a more serious note, while the first use of the term "visual novel" came with Leaf's Shizuku which is admittedly an 18+ game, the medium actually traces its roots back to Chunsoft's Otogirisou which is a non-h game (Chunsoft called its works "sound novels" instead). Of course, if you look it up on vndb will find releases of "visual novels" before that, but they are closer to games or text adventures than the visual novels we think of today. Don't worry. I'm part of the minority who plays visual novels for the sake of the story! Hence why I'm not particularly fond of fanservice only visual novels. If the fanservice comes with a story, I'll take it. If not, eh. Also, welcome kielomo!
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Post by 白龍 on Jun 1, 2016 11:39:00 GMT -8
Just finished Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru... It was a decent time killer. Something to watch when you don't know what to do 30 minutes before bed. What I really liked was Sidonia no Kishi. Blazed through both seasons in two weekends and amazingly its opening sequence song has made it to my ipod playlist. Something that has happened less times than the amount of fingers I have on one hand.
Edit: Oh, that and Gate. That was bloody brilliant.
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Post by 白龍 on Jun 1, 2016 10:40:43 GMT -8
It's a game, not reality. Fiction does not exist in isolation but reflects and refracts reality. In fact, that's the tagline of the Sunrider series: "This story takes place as we live today, in a universe reminiscent but vastly different from our own." Now you may argue "It's vastly different in the sense that there are no black people in the universe," and that's fine, but let's make that clear. Incidentally, as you can see from the posts on this board, a number of people were quite upset that [RE]turn's endings weren't canon. So yes, it's a game, not reality -- but that doesn't mean people don't care about it, and it doesn't diminish the value of their feelings. There's people with purple and light blue hair. If that's not racial diversity, I don't know what is. I absolutely agree; in fact, I wrote, "[Sunrider] presents a racially mixed humanity where women can hold their own with men." But for all that there's people with purple and light blue hair, there aren't any people with dark faces. What purpose would this even serve narratively? You're trying to frame it as if it isn't a PC issue but it's pretty clear that's exactly the case, and frankly, I find that attitude rather patronising even if I'm not the actual author. The narrative purpose would be narrative immersion and believability, as I wrote in my post: "If humanity's spread to the stars, then you'd expect to see all of humanity, and if you don't, then you'd wonder why." I do apologize if you find my attitude patronizing. That's certainly not my intention, particularly since you are not the actual author. I'm going to go on a bit of a stretch and attempt to rationalize why we don't see people with darker skin color in Sunrider. As you know, skin pigmentation is one of the most environment susceptible trait a human has being that it's a evolutionary feature humans develop to ward off high UV rays. Even without crossing generations, placing a human in a UV ray heavy area will darken his skin. Do it over the course of several hundred generations (I believe 2500 years was the minimum), and their descendants will be born naturally with darker skin. This also works vice versa. (Without going further into the complicated sociology of classes, wealth, cultural preferences, selective breeding, etc.) So I'll be assuming for the past 2,500 years+, the majority of humans have not had prolonged contact with strong UV rays. That the development and spread of technology has rendered everyone to turn pale. (Even in space, they stay inside spaceships. Who in their right mind would step outside of a spaceship and engulf themselves in the glory of all that highly radioactive cosmic background radiation) And that the ones that haven't? We probably just haven't seen yet.
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Post by 白龍 on May 31, 2016 18:58:51 GMT -8
There's people with purple and light blue hair. If that's not racial diversity, I don't know what is.
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Post by 白龍 on May 30, 2016 18:50:14 GMT -8
My opinions and a theory/thought Asaga/Ava/Sola routes: in complaints, don't know if I'll reply them... maybe Asaga's :3 Icari route: Her current personality feels a bit too generic (don't know what word to exactly use), but Kryska's performance in it saves it. Hell, even makes it funny enough to be the best route. Cosette's non-appearance: Even when Kayto goes back in time he still forgets to even look in her general direction. I feel Cosette reacting to two Kayto's may have been a missed opportunity, as well as her in the trapped bad end (maybe adding that bit to make the bad end not so "bad". As some Fate/Stay Night bad end's aren't exactly bad, but not good). Past Claude: Is there any point she reacts to two Kayto's? Because you'd think that would be something to take a second glance at. Claude Secret Ending: Man, I wish you guys could have had a art piece made for Alice getting... what word can I even use. I would have possibly added more to just the horror of what happened (if done well) As the first post says spoiler alert, this theory requires knowledge of Claude's secret ending. Now the man thing I got from this ending was this, why does Claude fixate on Kayto. Well I feel the ending might just explain it. It is because a Time Traveler called Kayto appeared before her and among other things made her a Time Traveler. The main credence to this thought is that the law of... (word) wasn't activated due to his presence before her. Had Kayto not been meant to be there that law should have destroyed the universe as whatever Claude was doing would have been interrupted there by fing up nearly everything after that. With this now we can guess there might be a chance Kayto may come across a god by the name of Kayto. The Past Claude part* Yeah, there was one part that was really, really brief during a battle. She comments on how she just stumbled across something interesting and went :3. Law of Casualty* A paradoxial loop in time with no beginning or end.
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Post by 白龍 on May 30, 2016 13:28:53 GMT -8
I like it!
Asaga's Route: Most Fun
Icari's Route: Most Hilarious
Sola's Route: Most Romantic
Ava's Route: Most Realistic (In a good or bad way, I'm not sure. Probably leaning more towards the mundane way in reference to escapement from reality.)
Claude's Route: Most Jedi-ish
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Post by 白龍 on May 30, 2016 10:02:47 GMT -8
The new Liberty pilot. Is totally Chitose Karasuma. I mean, even their introduction and mannerism (from what I could see) was similar. That said, IN THE NAME OF THE HOLY RYUVIAN EMPIRE!
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Post by 白龍 on May 29, 2016 14:39:47 GMT -8
Congratulations. A remarkable feat. That being said, didn't you run into the Asaga evasion bug in your playthrough? That made dealing with the Ascendant almost laughably easy in my playthrough, though it was still on captain difficulty. Yeah, that's why I stopped playing and waited for them to fix the bug before picking it back up.
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Post by 白龍 on May 29, 2016 11:26:22 GMT -8
Ok. Ok. Ok ok oko ok oko okko ko ko ok... Here goes take 3. After my browser crashing the first two times and I losing this post... So. This mission, is a lie. You do NOT rush to the other side. You sit there and wipe every Alliance scum off the face of the galaxy. Starting with the first two cruisers. Likey so. SAVE YOUR TORPEDOES! Do not use them until the top and bottom Alliance reinforcements arrive. But when they do, proceed to nuke the hell out of them with Sunrider. Then have Havoc nuke the Carrier + 2 Battleships in the middle. Likey so. When you see this, run. Run. Like. Hell. Manage your movements! You can get to the other side in about 5 turns. When the Pact reinforcements show up, destroy the top group and move the Sunrider as far away as Ryuvianly possible without going over the 5 turn limit. You'll be cutting it really close. Use your repairs liberally, there's no reason to save them. Make sure to keep Shojamming the Pact Supports. You want them to waste as much energy on themselves as possible. If they so much as get one Disable Lite off on Sunrider, you're screwed. Rush all your other units down to distract the coming onslaught of Pact Elites except for the Paladin. What do you do with the Paladin you ask? Well, you tow it with the Sunrider and plaster giant "Shoot me" signs onto those big shields of hers. Cutting it REALLY close here... Haaaa. It's over. It's finally over. RE HERE I COME!
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Post by 白龍 on May 29, 2016 9:50:05 GMT -8
So, this mission... Well, it wasn't too hard in Captain... Just annoying. No repair, no support, no shields. Also, Havoc. I mean come on, that's the most useless unit in the game. All it has is a chainsaw for melee and an assault gun... Tactical Officer: "Umm, sir. It carries 2 MIRVs and 3 missiles." What are missiles? 0_o Tactical Officer: "They- nevermind sir..." Well, I suppose the most I could do here is take out 1 cruiser and damage the other... Or bunker down and try to kill them. *Some time later* Ugh, without shields the Paladin's armor diminishes quickly... *Some more time later* Ow. Paladin died by turn 3. T_T *Do do do doo* This mission is like a missilephobe's worst nightmare. You've got nothing to use but your missiles. And I hate missiles. *Hmm~ Hm~ Hmmm~* So, give your offerings to the RNG gods, because you will need a lot of it in this mission... *Namusan* ... *After Try #7* HOLY DEAR ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY, WHAT IS ****'S NAME?! I'D RATHER FIGHT TWO NIGHTMARE ASCENDANTS THAN THIS! *Will keep you posted*
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Post by 白龍 on May 29, 2016 9:43:51 GMT -8
AAAAASCEEEEEEEEENDAAAAAAAANT!!!! YOU! YOU ALONE STAND BETWEEN ME AND MY RE! YOU ARE MY LAST SAVE, AND I WILL END YOU IN ORDER TO PLAY RE! UUUUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Eh.... What to get here... Uh.... Ended up buffing Sunrider''s missile damage to 800 and Phoenix's evasion to 70. Store??? Uhh, like.. What is there to buy... Summon battleship, ongessite fuel injection rods... I refuse to get torpedoes. It's a matter of pride. I suppose I'll get another one of those repair drones. Ok, let's do this. Oh! Pact reinforces us now? Grey! What was that about you loosing and you becoming shamed! Where's your ships?! You, the one blabbing your mouth about honor and whatnot ended up letting the dam reds help?! *grumble* Oi oi oi, Pact support get the hell out of there. When that Ascendant fires you're in a world of hurt. So, key things to note about this mission. There's a couple stages to this. In the first stage, the Nightmare Ascendant will almost always shoot you with a LOS AOE laser. So, put the Paladin straight in its path and make sure nothing's behind it. The Pact Support will spawn behind the Paladin, so make sure to pull it to the side. Always disable the Nightmare, it'll cut her attacks from 2 to 1. Also since we no longer have the Bianca to pitch in her extra set of shields, the Paladin's not going to last very long from the laser heavy enemy. Absolutely make sure you have the Pact Support's shield stacking with Chigara's or else the Paladin will* die. Focus on killing the Battleships first, their torpedoes are the most dangerous threat to the Paladin at the moment. It's better to not let them test your flak screen. Your forces should be big enough to take out all 4, so no worries there. Take things nice and slow. With the battleships gone, there's nothing to worry about from the enemy fleet. Nothing but 1 point lasers that your Paladin can shrug off. Don't rush to kill the Ascendant, when it hits 25k HP, reinforcements will spawn. The last thing you want is having reinforcements spawn when half of your fleet already fired its shots. So take it nice and easy, destroy the remaining enemy units, isolate the Ascendant, and move your units forward. Like this. On turn 3, reinforcements will appear. 4 battleships, 4 nightmares, and 2 destroyers. Destroying the 4 battleships and 2 destroyers shouldn't be a problem as long as you suppress them with your gunboats. Don't be afraid to skip a turn just to synchronize your full forwards with your awakenings. It's better than being caught off guard. When the 25k HP reinforcements spawn, prioritize battleships and destroyers. I know there are some people that say a double repair energy Liberty isn't that useful, but hey. Two cups of coffee is always better than one in my book with how much little sleep Asaga seems to get these days. Somebody give me a fanart of Asaga with bags under her eyes. Spread out your units... This boss has plenty of AOE attacks. Get your repairs ready, once she awakens she starts ignoring Paladin's sentinel. Which doesn't mean you should ignore it, keep it on just in case when more enemy reinforcements show up. Uugh, 3080.... Lost 2 of my Union Frigates and 2 Cera Gunboats. Disgraceful. I promised those men they would go home alive, and I've kept that promise right up until the very end... De- wait you get to let me go to the deck but no upgrades?! Chigara! You can do your dress later, get my ship upgraded now!
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Post by 白龍 on May 27, 2016 20:30:47 GMT -8
Alright folks! Here we go! I found a save that I posted here and it looks like it's working! Geez, I can't remember anything about this. What battle are we even going into?? Well then, we all know what's going to happen. So let's strip Bianca of the rest of her stuff. Uhh, let's pick up the ongessite faster Blackjack, the cloak for Icari, and the MK2 repair.. So, after re-upgrading Blackjack.. A double energy Blackjack with 45 Flak protection. Also buffed Paladin into a triple kinetic Paladin. I also buffed her armor to 40... So uhh, ahh I really don't want to take all these screenshots. I'm just gonna highlight it. So, this mission. You see those pesky Pact destroyers off in the corner? Yeah, your PACT and Alliance reinforcements are here to deal with those. The enemy flak range doesn't cover them so it's missiles away! For some reason they keep attacking Phoenix... Cera Gunboats and Full Forward are your friends! A combination of the two will make those pesky 75% battleships turn into 90% battleships. They're also great missile screens. Mmm, not much to say about this mission. Pretty easy as it is with all your reinforcements... There's no need to even advance very far, just sit there and snipe. Hit them hard in the first volley, don't get them time to recover, and hammer them in until they're gone. Damit you purple haired pretty boy, why are you still on this channel? Enough drama, shoo! I refuse to acknowledge men like you as men! ... Oh look, it's the Knightmare Ascendant. Yes yes, I know Sola. You're scared. It's the thing of legends during your day. And y'know what? I'm scared too. I'm scare of that blade of hers, made out of the core of a neutron star and all that. Pretty terrifying. If we were in a nebula, gas would be streaming toward her right now. If we were near an asteroid field, small asteroids would be flung from their orbit at terrifying speeds. Forget her lasers, that blade right there is a weapon of mass destruction! She chucks it at Cera and it'll impact with the force of several thousand nukes! Probably throw up a big enough dust cloud to plunge the world into a nuclear winter! ... Fire Vanguards! ... ... ... I demand the enemy to be short 2000 HP when the match starts. ... The Nightmare Ascendant can rule the galaxy you say? Administration must be terrible. I can't imagine one person sitting in a Ryder and efficiently managing the thousands of planets across the galaxy. ... Fontana... You always were useless weren't you? .... ...... Right, I also demand that you two be a part of this. I didn't need you in the last battle, but I need you here. Now git over here!
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Post by 白龍 on May 27, 2016 14:11:25 GMT -8
Hm, well. When I think of 4x I think of those 4x tile games. But if by 4x you meant "eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate", I suppose yeah it is a 4x. You could play the races, or you could custom make your own. As far as I know, there's no race specific quest line. Might as well just make your own race, the only differences being your custom race has no "backstory" when you select it on the main menu.
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Post by 白龍 on May 27, 2016 12:15:45 GMT -8
Hmm, you guys are tempting me to get it. Not sure if my computer can run it though. Only 4X game I ever played is Age of Wonders 3 and a bit of Warlock 2, and the closest thing to Stellaris I guess, is Sins of a Solar Empire (though it isn't 4x). What's the diff between the Nova edition and the Galaxy edition? Are any of those worth it? It's not 4x and it's pretty simmilar to Sins of a Solar Empire I think. If I'm remembering Sins of a Solar Empire correctly. It's an RTS with a pause button. Galaxy and Nova are for the dedicated fans of the developers. It's more of a "Here's extra money because I love your guy's work".
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Post by 白龍 on May 21, 2016 8:25:25 GMT -8
@sharr - Haha no thanks, I think we are done here. Also please don't try and take a moral high ground with 'derailment' it just looks arrogant, this is a topic you have baited out and yet somehow you have demonstrated another situation of why people just do not bother engaging with you, I am personally going to follow that trend and get back to my weekend as it has been quite a long week and I need the detox. But that's just it - YOU'VE been trying to take something of a moral high ground this whole argument, from trying to say "we can't judge it because it's incomplete" to "it's heavily subjective" to (of course), the "that's double-barreled" claim and quite a few other snide-sarcastic quips no different from me. My only issue is that I'm blunt - that doesn't make what I'm saying any less valid. If anything, it makes people (like you) who refuse to debate because of such a petty reason as how it's worded look... well, for lack of a better word, petty. I mean, it's the internet - people say what they think. If you can't handle that, how do you expect to hold a conversation - let alone a debate? One who speaks for the status quo versus one who speaks for challenging the status quo. I don't know, I was raised with maintaining the status quo being the paramount moral high ground and challenging the status quo being something less so. But then again I was raised in an environment where self censorship both in speech and thought is implied as proper etiquette. Since it's the internet and it seems I am allowed to speak my view, I will do despite it being against my natural inclinations. The internet, indeed people say what they think. It's a frontier where the only rules and laws are set up by its users. You speak of debate and expecting to hold a proper conversation. It is to my view that this debate you bring up is no longer a major concern, the users do not wish to hold this conversation. It has been grounded and halted, yet you persist. Freedom of speech is a wonderful concept, but those who take it for granted do not realize it comes with a cost. A social cost. The cost of repeatedly stating the points you have made many times. Your posts here are not for debating, they are not for conversing. They are statements. They are statements which if lucky enough will be seen by the developers of the game. They are an opinion formulated by an individual, a proclamation expressing the views and wishes of an individual's rationale for the greater community. They have been heard, you need not state them again. It is not a necessity to pursue in spreading your point of view. I have no right to stop you, but remember the costs to your persistence.
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Post by 白龍 on May 20, 2016 13:55:49 GMT -8
Now now, let's not get harsh with our words here.
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Post by 白龍 on May 19, 2016 13:00:22 GMT -8
Ahh, well here's my map. I'm teal, vassalized the orange, white, and green blobs on the left side of the galaxy. Just finished the war with the other half of the galaxy, could only take 1 planet because at this stage of the game everything costs so much... The other half of the galaxy literally formed a federation against me the moment I conquered the ringworld fallen empire. I've since then just done a lot of waiting for my vassals to integrate... They take hundreds of years to annex. T_T This is my main/first official playthough race. They were built entirely with sustained development in mind. (Why does falling behind in tech matter when you can out-industrialize the enemy 4 to 1? ) But no, my Confederacy of Mankind (and its unlimited supply of super talented leaders) build has so far been the most broken build I've made so far. It's just pending a super ultra great delicious wonderfully obnox- I mean long name. Since this is supposed to be about Sunrider. May I present the Holy Ryuvian Empire? I figured I let stats speak for themselves more than lore friendly names. With a flat base +20% to all 3 research production, + an extra 15% to physics research (Because that's what all high tech is right..? Physics?). Throw in 5% discount to research rate in general... The Holy Ryuvian Empire is going to come out leagues ahead of its neighbors in terms of tech. But for roleplaying purposes, I was thinking something more along the lines of Fanatic Pacifist, with a dash of Spiritualist maybe? With a Divine Mandate government instead of a Despotic Hegemony.
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Post by 白龍 on May 18, 2016 19:32:08 GMT -8
This is uh... Mainly because vladek was like So! Any Stellaris players out there? Post your stuff below! I am here to show you my Sunrider-class cruisers! Outfitted with a fore heavy Tachyon Lances, 2 sets of Guardian Point-Defense, 12 swarm Strike Crafts, and an stern medium Gauss Cannon. Couldn't find any room for torpedoes... But then again I a personal vendetta against missile based weaponry so. No missiles! Here it is, the 7th Fleet! Composed entirely of Sunrider-class assault carriers! Time to face our first enemy of the week, this puny defense satellite. Strike crafts away! Oh dam, they sent reinforcements. Run! Call in the main fleet! Just hold out for a bit longer boys! The wormhole is open, they won't be long! Zeinab El-Baz: "This is Admiral Zeinab El-Baz, the 2nd Fleet has arrived." The battle was won, but not without sacrifices. We have lost the Sunrider-class Caldwell III and the Royal Sovereign. May they be remembered for their heroic duty and sacrifice in the name of the Imperial Plutocratic Oligarchy of the Hua Xia Federated Empire and Tributaries... Fun Fact: The Imperial Plutocratic Oligarchy of the Hua Xia Federated Empire and Tributaries is a Collectivist Fanatical Pacifist civilisation that is currently at war with half the galaxy.
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Post by 白龍 on May 17, 2016 22:23:45 GMT -8
Eh? But the art book said 10... (Down from 12)
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Post by 白龍 on May 6, 2016 18:39:24 GMT -8
A/N: More and more secrets about the admiral is revealed.
(VCNM) A/N: Oh ho ho. Finally, I get to have some fun with developing our dear admiral. -Edited. Rewrote Captain's monologue-
Planet Tianxia, Tianshang Port, Yamato, Yamato Medical Bay The door slid open to reveal Taejong. He was holding a bouquet of flowers in his right hand. Steeling himself, he stepped into the intensive care room. Yayoi’s condition was critical and she had undergone intensive care for several hours before finally being stabilized. She was given a one hour window for visitors before undergoing regrowth hibernation, surgery, and therapy.
There floated Yayoi in a horizontal bacta tube, or what was left of her. The entire upper right half of her body was exposed, torn away by the explosion. Her ribs, lungs, stomach, liver, and beating heart… There was but a few strips of muscles left on her mostly bone right arm. Her face was in no good condition either, or rather lack of. It was simply a mass of flesh and bone, melted together by the intense heat of the explosion. Countless tubes and wired connected with her body, either filtering her blood or providing nutrients and oxygen. It seems she still retained some sense of hearing for her head twitched toward the door when it opened. The speakers around her bed suddenly started broadcasting, transferring her thoughts into words.
Yayoi: “Captain?”
Taejong: “Ah, no. Yes, ma’am. So she thinks I’m the admiral huh?”
There was a brief pause as the microphones received his voice and converted them into recognizable signals before transmitting them to her brain. Then came a giggle in Yayoi’s pitch and voice.
Yayoi: “Hahaha. Thank you for coming, no need to be so formal captain. I’m really sorry for this sight, I must be ugly to you aren’t I?”
Taejong: “No no, you’re as beautiful as always. I uhh, I brought you flowers.”
Yayoi: “How sweet of you. Thank you very much, please set it on the table. I will ask the nurse to put it in water later. I am sure they are very beautiful when I can see again.”
Taejong: “Oh, oh. Sorry, I didn’t mean…”
Yayoi: “That is quite alright. I am sure you meant nothing by it.”
Taejong took a seat beside the bacta tube and stared at Yayoi’s disfigured body. Simply seeing that she was still alive caused his words stuck to be stuck in his throat.
Taejong: “How… Are you?”
Yayoi: “I’m sorry, I did not hear you. Could you speak up?”
Taejong: “A-ah, sorry. How are you?”
Yayoi: “I am fine. I am in no pain, they are giving me painkillers. I feel rather light, probably a side effect.”
Taejong: “I see… Medical technology has come rather far hasn’t it?”
Yayoi: “Hahaha, imagine my reaction when I first saw you.”
Taejong: “Visited me?”
Yayoi: “Oh, you were still in a coma then. Remember when you were caught in that explosion at Cera? Your hands were gone! Not even bone left. Shattered stumps. I remember one of the doctors complaining how they should just chop everything off and regrow a new one. My hand is mostly bone now, but regrowing muscle and skin is easier than making a new arm.”
As if to emphasize her point she contracted the few strands of muscles she had on her right arm, jerking the whole thing up a little.
Taejong: “Ah, I see…”
Yayoi: “Hey, captain. Think they’ll make my boobs bigger if I ask them too?”
Taejong: “I- I don’t know about that.”
Yayoi: “It’s not like I have anything left. I’m told that all my internal organs are exposed. How creepy!”
Taejong: “You’ll be back to normal soon. I like you the way you are, so you don’t have to try to change yourself.”
There was a brief moment of silence, the only sounds coming from the heart rate monitor which began to beat faster.
Yayoi: “… Aww… You’re making me blush captain.”
Taejong: “… Heh…”
There was another moment of silence between the two until Yayoi spoke up again.
Yayoi: “How are my fans doing? A lot of them showed up earlier, some of them were even crying! There was so many of them.”
Taejong: “They’re… Doing fine now.”
Yayoi: “That’s good. As their big sister I have to take care of them. But I’m not in much of a state to do so right now.”
Taejong: “Don’t worry, the admiral will look after all of us.”
Yayoi: “The admiral?”
Taejong: “Ah-“
Realizing his facade was over, he stood up and bowed.
Taejong: “I’m sorry!”
Taejong turned around and quickly left, the door hissing shut behind him. Yayoi floated there in silence thinking to herself.
Yayoi: “Admiral? Then who was that…”
A few moments later she heard footsteps from inside the room, the door hissed open and closed as if someone had just left. But who else was in the room?
Yayoi: “Hello?”
There was no answer.
Planet Tianxia, Tianshang Port, Yamato, Captain’s Quarters
Hongxi sat in his room, his eyes skimming over the various reports on the repairs of the Yamato. A small ding and a message notification to the bottom right of the holoscreen drew his attention. An incoming transmission from Jiguang, this must be about the acquisition of the Vault. Tapping it, the small notification expanded to a full window showing Qi Jiguang’s face.
Jiguang: “Ah, Hongxi. Good to see you again.”
Hongxi: “Get straight to the point, do you have the Qishi?”
Jiguang’s face grew dark upon seeing Hongxi’s expression and hearing his tone.
Jiguang: “So this is that… I was afraid-“
Hongxi: “Jiguang, the bombs.”
Jiguang: “Yes, it’s been prepared as you have asked. We will have it installed sometime this week.”
Hongxi: “And the repairs?”
Jiguang: “Almost complete sir.”
Hongxi: “It’s been a month already, every day that passes is another day the enemy has to recover from the damage we’ve dealt. Any longer and all this would have been for naught.”
Jiguang: “I apologize sir, but the things you have asked for…”
Hongxi: “Ahh never mind. You’re useless... How goes the recommissioning of the Defense Fleet?”
Jiguang: “We have managed to recover 55 cruisers from the Graveyard. 6 battleships, 22 cruisers, and 20 frigates have been built during your campaign. In addition to the ships you have captured, we have a total of 123 ships.”
Hongxi: “There are tens of thousands of ships in the Graveyard and we only managed to recover 55? Bah! How about Project Z?”
Jiguang: “We have refurbished 9,322 artillery pieces. We will reach our target in time.”
Hongxi: “Good, good... The stage is almost set. The sleeping dragon shall awaken and the universe shall tremble in our wake.”
Jiguang: “Yes sir...”
Hongxi: “Anything else?”
Jiguang: “No sir.”
Hongxi: “That will be all.”
Jiguang: “Hong-“
Jiguang stopped after catching Hongxi’s stare. The stare of a ruthless dictator. Gone were the aloof but reassuring eyes of his old friend. He unconsciously shivered and adverted his eyes.
Hongxi: “That will be all, Governor-General Jiguang.”
Jiguang: “Yes your majesty. Jiguang out.”
The transmission ended and the window minimized itself to the side. Hongxi let out a sigh and rubbed his temple. His migraines were getting worse by the day. He wasn’t himself. He knew this and yet, it felt natural to him. Pushing back his chair, Hongxi stood up and turned to face the window displaying the planet below. His eyes stared at the window, and his reflection that stared back at him. In his mind’s eye, the eyes staring back at him were not his.
Hongxi: “What is our plan...
Plan? Why it’s to make them pay. Yes, pay for what they’ve done to us. Pay for what was almost taken away from us. Pay for the humiliation. The disgrace. The Century of Humiliation. Ahh, I still remember it as if it were just yesterday. Yes, when the disgusting Zebben vermin showed up above my fort. Those ships, so high in the sky that I could do nothing to... Nothing. NOTHING!”
Hongxi caught himself, panting heavily. His clenched fist was plastered to the window and shaking. Streaks of blood dripped down from his fractured knuckles, splattering on the floor below him. He slowly drew back his fist and relaxed it, staring at his bloody palm. His nails had punctured his skin.
Hongxi: “The Alliance, it’s the Alliance’ fault. They interfered with our neighbors. They STOLE our tributary away from us!
No, it was the New Empire’s. They opened the door into the galactic core and paved the way for these foreign barbarians to enter.
You nearsighted fool! It was the Holy Ryuvian Empire. They’re the ones who sealed us in here in the first place. I remember it now! Our entire planet, suddenly transported into the galactic core! Everything, lost! All of our technology, our people, our civilization! Our glory, our honor. It was all robbed. The Eons of Strife, the War of the Three Kingdoms, the bloody civil wars, the World War. It was all them! THEM!”
Hongxi came to again, his left hand was gripping the railings by his bed with such strength that his knuckles had turned white. He collapsed against the wall and rested his head against the cool surface. His knees suddenly gave out, causing him to reach out. His palm slapped against the wall as he fell to the floor, leaving behind a red smear. He lied there, staring dizzily at the ceiling. He was tired. So tired... Hongxi closed his eyes and his mind slowly drifted off into slumber.
Hongxi: “What is our mission...
The Elixir of Immortality project...
To preserve the vast knowledge and sagacity of various historical Tianxia leaders.
To prepare humanity against the coming darkness.
To restore Tianxia to its former glory.
To ensure Tianxia’s continual survival and to prevent its self-destruction.
To safeguard the stability and prosperity of all under heaven.
No, we’re wrong. We are all wrong! We have to make them pay for what they’ve done to us. To... To. To Yayoi. Yes, we will make them pay for what they’ve done to Yayoi. It hurts doesn’t it? The pain of almost loosing someone you care about. Indeed, that feeling. No! Don’t run away, EMBRACE IT! Yes, it’s a terrible feeling isn’t it? I too lost someone dear to me. My favorite concubine, a sweet and dear girl. But my first wife grew jealous, and had her assassinated. Haha, the feeling of her soft and tender flesh... Her blood pooling in the palm of my hand. That sweet, sweet feeling... No, we’re too pure for that aren’t we. No, that other feeling. That terrible, terrible feeling. Do you remember it? When the walls came crashing in, the explosion, the fire, the screaming... We were fine, we were invincible. Gods among men! But Yayoi... Our precious. Her screams as the very fires of hell burned away her flesh and beauty. Her frantic eyes panicking as oxygen was ripped from her lungs. Yes, I killed my brother. I was too late in giving the order to warp out of there. I didn’t fully grasp the situation. If I had given the order to emergency warp, we probably could have made it... Nothing like when we lost our brothers... The poison had worked so well. None of the palace guards ever knew. My ascendancy was ensured.
Yayoi was different. I liked her, even back at the Academy. I had set my eyes on her.
No... No. No! Preposterous, a Zebben?!
Silence you blasted old racist fool!
Yes, even if she was a Zebben... She walked with the grace Huaxia women did not have. Something we Huaxia have lost.
And something we will regain! Remember that feeling, yes remember it. Keep it fresh and alive in your heart and I will be here with you... Remember. I was the unifier, I was the one that founded the first empire. I set out with ten thousand men and conquered a million! I did what was impossible and put an end to the warring states! With my knowledge and experience, WE shall do it again! I-“
Sun-Sin: “Captain?”
Hongxi’s eyes snapped open. The sharp knock ripped him from his dream. His throat dry, he rasped in a voice barely louder than a whisper.
Hongxi: “Come in.”
The door hissed open and in stepped Sun-Sin. His eyes locked on Hongxi’s collapsed body and the smears of blood on the wall.
Sun-Sin: “Captain!”
He dropped the files in his arms and rushed over to Hongxi, gingerly checking for any other wounds.
Sun-Sin: “Captain! What happened?! Medic, security! Captain’s quarters, now!”
Hongxi: “I am... Quite fine, Sun-Sin. I am fine.”
Sun-Sin: “With all due respect sir, no! You are not fine! These wounds are self-inflicted aren’t they? Captain, you need help. You’re...”
Sun-Sin choked on his last words and swallowed them but Hongxi knew what he was going to say.
Hongxi: “You’re the closest person I have to a father... No Sun-Sin. There will be others. There will always... Be others to replace me.”
Sun-Sin: “No! No one else... You are you! Come, the medics are here. Let’s get you patched up.”
The medics rushed into the room, sparing not a single moment to process the situation. Hongxi was slid onto a stretcher and ushered from the room with Sun-Sin hot on their trail.
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Post by 白龍 on May 6, 2016 0:31:21 GMT -8
So wait, what exactly should be possible to do to certain so and so?
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Post by 白龍 on May 4, 2016 17:40:17 GMT -8
Finally. I got this chapter over with. Now I can get to the fun stuff? :3?
(NMDG) Taejong could hardly believe his luck when he heard the broadcast saying that they would conduct a rescue and destroy operation. A great weight was just lifted off his multiple hearts. He was currently in the hanger and in the middle of hand picking his best men for the job. They were ordered to hit hard and fast, dropping into the station and rescuing as many Tianxia delegates as they can before detonating the station and warping out. Oh and was he determined to hit hard indeed.
The line of men and women before him suddenly snapped to attention. Unusual for a rowdy group like them, which meant the man coming up behind him was either someone of significant rank or this was a collaborated prank. Snapping to attention, Taejong turned about face to encounter…
Taejong: “Admiral Hongxi!”
Hongxi simply dipped his head in acknowledgement and continued towards him, stopping less than half a meter away. Taejong could feel the Admiral’s gaze, penetrating right through the reflective faceplate of his suit and staring right into his eyes. Despite towering over the admiral by two full heads, the admiral’s presence still unnerved him. He instinctively flinched when he saw the admiral’s hand raising out of the corner of his eye, as if expecting some kind of blow. However nothing of the sort happened and instead all he heard was three light knocks on his shoulder armor piece.
Hongxi: “Squad commander. Do you happen to have…? An extra one of these lying around?”
Taejong: “Yes sir! Taisun! Escort the good Admiral to the engineering bay!”
Taisun: “Sir yes sir!”
Hongxi: “Make room for me in your squad. I’ll be counting on you.”
Hongxi walked on over to Taisun with his hands behind his back, the only sounds the squad hearing being his footsteps. The giant, clunky marine saluted and lead him down to one corner of the hanger the marines referred to as the Mechanic’s Cave. The Engineering Bay looked like the assembly line of a factory, multiple robotic arms would either piece together or disassemble power suits around marines that were transported down a conveyer belt. The weaponry and power suits assigned were usually based around one’s rank and profession. Being that this was the admiral, Taejong was slightly curious as to what kind of suit Hongxi would wear. But before that, he had to address the issue that was on everybody’s mind.
Taejong: “Alright, listen up marines! We’ve got a little change in plans! Your mission is now to prioritize the safety and sanity of Admiral Hongxi, do you get me?!”
Everyone: “Yes sir!”
Taejong: “This isn’t the walk in the park anymore men! We have with us the Admiral, Supreme Commander of the Tianxia Space Force! I expect perfect DISCIPLINE out of you apes, DO YOU GET ME?!”
Everyone: “SIR YES SIR!”
Taejong: “I DON’T THINK YOU GET IT! THIS IS ADMIRAL HONGXI! IF WE SO MUCH AS PISS HIM OFF, HE’LL BURY US IN A HOLE SO DEEP THAT IT’LL TAKE LIGHT A YEAR TO GET TO US! AND WHILE WE’RE ROTTING AWAY IN HEAVEN KNOWS WHERE, HE’LL BE MAKING ALL THREE GENERATIONS OF OUR FAMILES DRINK NUCLEAR PISS! DO YOU GET ME?!”
Everyone: “WE GET YOU SIR!”
Taejong: “Good! Now, Joowon, Ha-eun, Seo-yeon, Tanikashi, Tsubaki…”
One by one, the marines he called out would step forward. With his mission priorities completely changed he had to rethink his tactics however that didn’t stop him from thinking in the back of his head, just why was the admiral joining them?
Thracia, Thracia Prison Barge
The Yamato dropped out of warp in high orbit, shaking the very foundations of space-time around it. The Macross Drive’s warp rings powered down and energy was redirected to the main thrusters, propelling the massive ship forward. The thrusters were shut off barely a minute later switching the ship to inertial cruise. The shadow casted by the vessel slowly engulfed the prison barge, plunging it into darkness.
Chaff was launched towards the station’s FTL comms and all radio frequencies were jammed by the Yamato’s powerful radio emitters. Radio signals traveled at the speed of light, was broadcasted in all directions, and could only be picked up and decoded on the right channels and frequencies. Thus it has remained as the most popular and secure form of communication ever since its discovery, shadowing laser relays in terms of range and versatility.
Many nations broadcasted on common, pre-determined frequencies while military broadcasted on classified channels and often in encrypted form. To intercept broadcasts, one would have to tune in on the right frequency and be able to decode its message. To jam, one simply had to overrun it with noise while maintaining one’s own secure channel The Yamato’s jamming technique worked by blasting noise into every frequency, washing away any and all signals and ensuring no one would be able to communicate through radio. Chaff on the other hand worked as a physical jammer, disrupting any radar or radio signals that passed through it. It also assisted greatly in disrupting FTL communications if fired directly into the emitter’s and receiver’s “line of sight”. Targets showing up on radar would turn into incomprehensible streaks, radio signals received through the chaff would end up as static, while FTL communications simply never make it.
These methods were dropped by galactic standards due to them essentially cutting off all forms of communication and inability to distinguish between hostile and friendly signals, a luxury the Yamato could afford to lose. The use of laser relays was still common within the Tianxia Defense Force, a technology that was considered revolutionary at one time but fell into disuses across the galaxy when met with no demand. Thus was the reason for the Yamato’s secrecy and efforts to cover up the aftermath of its operations. The Yamato’s reputation of being an information black hole was common amongst the intelligence of Alliance and PACT. Wherever it showed up, the region went dark. Even long after it has left, the chaff they used would leave a long lasting disruption field, a problem ground armies did not have to face back in the days of planetary warfare where gravity would simply cause all the chaff to settle.
The rear launch bays slid open and out came the Yamato’s complement of Ryders, speeding towards the station below in formation. The Qiang swerved around in place so it could look directly at the others behind her.
Meifeng: “Uh, hello? Testing, testing. Can anybody hear me?”
Xue: “This is Pae, don’t worry. I have a clear sight on you, I’ll relay everyone’s signals even if you don’t have a clear LOS with each other.”
Meifeng: “That’s reassuring to hear.”
Pae: “We are coming up beside the station, the Yamato is launching its marine detachment. Let’s make sure those pods land, designating priority targets. Take them out!”
Everyone; “Yes ma’am!”
Qiang and Katana both blasted their thrusters to full, achieving maximum speed before shutting them off.
Meifeng: “Heeeeeeree IIiii gooooooo! Haaaaaaa!”
The Qiang crashed into one of the flak turrets, plunging her spear into the turret’s base before using it as a lever and ripping the turret out of its socket.
Meifeng: “Whew, go get them marines! We got things out here!”
The Qiang saluted one of the incoming Heavy Boarding Pod. These ones were built for breaking through armor that was too thick for the normal ones to puncture. She watched the thing smash into the hull, stabbing it with its anchor claws before drilling through the armor. Upon breaking through the armor, the drill would open up and deploy the squad of marines inside the pod.
Tsukiko: “One cut, one kill.”
The Katana sped past one of the turrets and sliced the flak gun in half in the process, the thermal vibration blade leaving behind a red hot line on the two halves of the turret. Elsewhere, the Tanegashima and Pyeonjeon were sniping flak turrets from afar. The bolts of tungsten and plasma, being armor piercing weapons, punctured the armor plating and ripped apart the internal workings of the turrets and either caused them to shut down or blow up upon impacting its ammunition feeder.
Yamato, Northern Hanger Bay
Taejong was calm. He was unnervingly calm. Sitting right beside him was the Admiral of the Fleet who had unexpectedly showed up at the last second. Under normal circumstances, this would be an awe inspiring yet nerve racking moment to have the highest ranking man in the fleet sitting right next to you. However this was no ordinary mission, today he was fighting for something beside the duties indoctrinated into him. He was embarking on a mission to personally save someone he cared about.
Taejong mentally laughed to himself. What was this, some kind of B-grade Zebben drama? The ronin warrior descends upon the evil fortress and rescues the princess in distress before running away together to live happily ever after. No, he was no hero. The fact that the admiral himself was personally joining him on this mission probably meant the rumors were true. Taejong closed his eyes and began recounting his oath to the state, this was no time for doubts in his heart. That all he was is a lowly foot soldier escorting his lord in an assault on the enemy’s stronghold.
The Boarding Shuttle buckled and rocked from glancing enemy fire. The pilot said nothing through the intercom, which probably meant they were still okay. The trips in-between was the one thing all marines feared most, the one place where they were the most vulnerable and powerless. Their lives were either in the hands of the pilot or in the luck of the pod to not be hit by hostile fire. Being that this shuttle was carrying precious cargo, they probably grabbed the best pilot in the fleet but even then… The marine corp’s inherent distrust of Fleet was too much.
The shuttle buckled one last time before settling down. The lights turned red and their straps snaped open. The shuttles rear doors flung open and out marched his marines, guns raised and ready to go. Taejong ran out and beckoned Hongxi to stick behind him.
Taejong: “This way sir, we’ll escort you to the prison cells. Oni Squad has already locked down the control room is and clearing us a way.”
Hongxi: “Hm, worry about yourself more than me. My suit is more advanced than yours, soldier.”
Taejong: “Understood sir, this wa-“
Hun’guk: “Incoming!”
Taejong was suddenly shoved out of the way by Hongxi, a rocket zipping past the spot where he was just at. A pair of armored hunter killer walkers thudded into the hanger and lit up their machine guns.
Taejong: “Guh! Take cover, take cover!”
The marines who were returning fire one by one stopped and dove behind the nearby crates. Each one made sure to provide cover fire for the ones who weren’t. Multiple puncture holes appeared all along the walker’s body, but it refused to go down and simply returned fire in the earnest.
Hongxi: “Cover me.”
Taejong: “Wha-?”
He was not used to this. Someone in his squad acting independently. He knew full well that this was the admiral and his authority far exceeded him, but habit of disciplining those who acted out of line still jarred him. The admiral’s orders were orders, peeking over the side he went full auto on the hunter killer. Conservation of ammunition didn’t matter when the admiral's life was at stake and they were this close to a shuttle full of ammunition crates.
Taejong: “All units, provide cover fire for the admiral!”
One of the hunter killer’s legs sparked and finally snapped from all the puncture holes. The hunter killer fell forward and laid in a smoking heap, its chassis filled with more holes than they could count. Meanwhile the second one released another barrage of rockets, forcing the marines to dive out of cover and seek new places. Suddenly the tip of a thermal vibroblade erupted from the center of its chassis. Hongxi had managed to sneak under the walker and stabbed straight through it. No one knew what he stabbed through, but it had to be pretty important if the hunter killer suddenly stopped working. Taejong blinked in surprise, was this really the arm chair admiral he had heard so much about? Even if his suit was faster and stronger than his own, to have the guts to plunge directly into the enemy was shocking.
Hongxi: “Fall in men, Takakuze take point. Hiroto, Hun’guk, secure the hanger. Taejong, you’re with me. Your waypoints have been updated, if we get separated stick to them. From here on out, you’re all my children and I expect each and every one of you to be back before dinner you get me? Now, move out!”
Everyone: “Sir yes sir!”
Taejong could hardly believe what he just heard. Even his way of speech and mannerisms was different too… It was as if the man in that suit was different, that someone else had replaced him entirely and was merely speaking through Hongxi’s voice.
Hongxi: “What’s the matter Taejong, thinking too hard? You’re falling behind, catch up!”
Taejong: “Sorry sir! It won’t happen again!”
Hongxi: “Hm, good. That’s what I expect to hear!”
The operation continued, smoothly. Smoothly, not perfectly, but smoothly. And eerily so too. Hongxi’s quick reactions and orders to every threat they faced, situations with injured and fallen marines, when to fall back and when to advance. He handled the operation with the experience and level headedness of someone who had long been in the field, something that did not quite fit Hongxi’s bio.
Hongxi: “Looks like we lost them for now, but we’re still surrounded. Reinforcements from Tangzhong is on their way to our position. Wind down Taejong, I’ll keep a look out.”
Taejong leaned against the wall, letting his arm dangle at his side for the moment. He stared hard at Hongxi’s golden reflective faceplate and saw his own battered reflection.
Taejong: “… Sir, permission to ask a personal question.”
Hongxi: “Permission granted soldier.”
Taejong: “Why are you really on this mission, admiral?”
There was an implausible silence, Hongxi seemed to have froze in place. The next time his voice came through the comm, it was as if the old admiral was back. A much more calm and laidback voice, devoid of the sternness from earlier.
Hongxi: “To rescue somebody’s beloved XO.”
Taejong: “Belo-“
Hongxi: “It’s written all over your face Taejong.”
Taejong? That was the first time Hongxi had used his name during this entire operation. He was only ever referred to as squad commander or soldier…
Taejong: “The rumors sir, between you and the XO-“
Hongxi: “All false. Though I do seem to have taken a liking to her. Hm? Wipe that look off your face, don’t worry. I won’t steal your precious XO from you.”
Taejong: “…Steal? Sir, you misunder-”
Something began bubbling up within Taejong, he didn’t like the way this was going.
Hongxi: “It’s not my policy to interfere with my subordinate’s love life. But since you two younglings make such a good couple, I could make an exception. You’re brave, you readily step into hails of fire. But can y-“
Taejong: “Admiral! Forgive me way of speech but, I must ask! Do you love Yayoi?”
The comm link remained silent for quite a while. A click, indicating Hongxi had activated the channel and was about to speak but nothing came until finally…
Hongxi: “………… They probably should have incorporated interpersonal relationship classes into the Orphanage. Yes. But like I said Taejong, I won’t be-“
Taejong: “Admiral! We marines do NOT take handouts! If you really do love her then you won’t be giving her up like you are now!”
Hongxi: “I-“
Taejong took a step forward, shoving his faceplate right into Hongxi’s who was almost an entire head taller than him.
Taejong: “I don’t want to hear it! I can deal with not procreating above my social status but I can’t and will NOT tolerate someone of your stature treating this as if it were some kind of game! I will not let you trample on the pride of the lower classes admiral-, no, Hongxi!”
Hongxi: “…. You understand what this means soldier?”
Taejong could feel his heart take a plunge. Fear, realization of what he had just done and the possible repercussions. The audacity of his behavior. But it was too late to back down now, his pride would not allow it. He did not know what expression his face was making, and he was ever so grateful for the faceplate being reflective. Mentally swallowing, he nodded.
Taejong: “Yes admiral.”
Hongxi: “Hm. I like you, very well my rival! Let us compete then for a place in Yayoi’s heart! But first.”
Taejong heard a beep come from the comm link and almost instantly a searing hot pain flashed through his body. High voltage electricity surged through his flesh and bone, causing him to fall to his knees. The pain was intense, it was as if his blood was on fire and was boiling him alive. At last the pain stopped when he was nothing but an exhausted mess on the ground, his senses begrudgingly coming back to him. He could feel strength returning to his limbs as the suit injected whatever cocktail of drugs designed by Tianxia researchers.
Hongxi: “Stand up marine, something like that wouldn’t kill you. Remember your oath to the state, you must kill ten soldiers to repay your debt to your country. But I’ll make it easy for you, you must save five lives before you can even think about retiring.”
Taejong groaned and pushed himself up. Hongxi’s mechanical hand extended out to him and he grabbed it. Pulled to his feet, Taejong stumbled backwards a bit before finally shaking his head clear of the disorientation.
Hongxi: “Don’t die on me marine, your punishment isn’t over yet.”
Taejong: “Y-you don’.. Agghhh… You don’t hold back with the punishments do you sir?”
Hongxi: “I have a reputation to maintain Taejong. You’re lucky I’m not making you drink nuclear piss. Now come on, reinforcements have arrived. This is our chance to break through, let’s go.”
Taejong: “Sir yes sir!”
It would not be long until they finally reached Yayoi’s holding cell. Until the fateful event that would lead to the galaxy finally seeing the true horrors of a no-holds-barred war with Tianxia. Of the kinds of war fought within the isolated system in the galactic core. A place any historian would remark how much of a miracle it was for the civilization there to still exist. Of the monsters and demons of its past that was sealed away, sworn never to be unleashed ever again on one another. Hongxi’s radio exploded with Sun-Sin’s panicked voice.
Sun-Sin: “Captain! Watch out, incoming sh-“
The holding cells exploded. Outside, a ship had warped in. A massive one, red, black, and most of all big. Bigger than even the Yamato. Shells was already being exchanged between the two superships, both armed to the teeth and armored to the bone.
Yamato, First Bridge
Tact: “I-is that the Legion?!”
Sun-Sin: “No, it’s too small to be the Legion. It’s PACT’s Legionnaire program, to think they’ve already completed the first one… It must have been waiting in a nearby system for this system to go dark. Captain, are you alright? Pl-“
Hongxi: “Send a medical shuttle now!”
Sun-Sin: “Yes sir!”
Of the twelve diplomatic prisoners: nine were instantly killed in the blast, two suffered severe injuries, and one was in critical condition. More than that, they were now submitted to the vacuum of space. A nearby medical shuttle arrived and began beaming down nanomachines, putting the survivors into intensive life support before taking them onboard. The other squads received orders and began falling back too, dozens of tiny landing shuttles lifted off the station and returned to the mothership.
The door to the bridge seemed to slam open as if emphasizing Hongxi’s fury and rage. He took up his usual position and stared at the main screen.
Hongxi: “Status report!”
Sun-Sin: “Quantum missile set, marines are safely back aboard. The newcomer, it’s a Legionnaire captain. We are currently engaged in combat with it. We have penetration in the Eastern side armor, Eastern Broadsiders 1 through 14, 26 through 30, 48, and 63 have been taken out. Northeastern Slant Armor looks like it’ll need a new paint job!”
Hongxi: “If that thing warped in here then reinforcements must not be far behind. Our Ryders back on board?”
Sun-Sin: “Yes sir!”
Hongxi: “Detonate the station. Emergency warp, get us out of here.”
Sun-Sin: “Understood, detonating, emergency warp in 3. 2. 1. Warp!”
Space contorted around the Yamato just as a massive explosion engulfed the station from within. The dozens of shells being exchanged from the two massive ships became distorted as they passed through the field until finally nothing but an afterimage of the Yamato was left.
A visible sigh could be heard from the bridge crew upon exiting warp.
Hongxi: “Damage report.”
Sun-Sin: “Northeastern Slant Armor is damaged but has not been penetrated. Eastern Side Armor seeing multiple impact sites. A few glancing shots struck the Northeastern Jiushisi but they are still operational. Thirty-six marine pod launchers have been destroyed, of the 14 marine squads lau-“
Coco: “New warp signature directly above us, it’s the Legionnaire!”
The Legionnaire warped in above the Yamato, the red glow in its barrel representing the impending doom feared by all Alliance. And the Yamato was drifting straight into its path...
Coco: “Det-“
Hongxi: “Emergency reverse thrusters!”
The Yamato lurched when the reverse thrusters were fired, dramatically slowing down its speed. A red beam of light dispensed from the barrel of the 2 kilometer long Legionnaire, burning a hole straight through the central fore section of the Yamato. The bridge rumbled, throwing everyone off their feet.
Hongxi: “Status report!”
Sun-Sin: “That blast burned a hole straight through the ship, anymore and it would have hit the Macross Drive! The Macross Stabilizing Pylons are destroyed captain, we can’t fire the Macross Cannon!”
Hongxi: “Doesn’t matter, warp us to these coordinates now! Full power to the Macross Drive, divert water from the reservoir as coolant!”
Hongxi rapidly typed into the holographic command screen in front of him.
Sun-Sin: “Aye captain! Wait, these coordinates, isn’t thi-“
Hongxi: “Computer, warp!”
The massive supership once again disappeared, warping off into a region of space. Due to its size and nature of the Macross Drive, the trail it left behind was clear as day to those with the right gravitational sensors. It did not rely on stealth, rather on time for the various folds of space-time to flatten out to cover their tracks. However with an enemy hot on their tail, there was no time to be spared.
The Yamato came out of warp and arrived in a dark region of space. Too dark, as if the light from the stars had vanished. And indeed they have, for in from of them was a stellar black hole.
Hongxi: “Thrusters to full! Plot a course to the right, slingshot us out using the black hole’s gravitational field. Load Eastern mine bays and drop gravity mines on my mark!”
Tact: “Yes sir, loading gravity mines!”
Coco: “Sir, warp signature detected. The Legionnaire is right behind us!”
Hongxi: “Persistent sons of bitches aren’t they?”
The ship rumbled as it took more direct hits. Hongxi stared at the screen in front of him, his eyes tracking the speed and acceleration of the Yamato. As soon as it reached its maximum velocity…
Sun-Sin: “Sir, they took out the Eastern main engine as well as the Southeastern quadrant of auxiliary thrusters!”
The acceleration gauge finally reached maximum speed.
Hongxi: “Cut main thrusters, full power to Eastern Fore Thruster and Western Aft Thrusters!”
Sun-Sin: “Aye captain!”
The Yamato’s engines were shut off and the ship drifted forward while making a full 180 degree turn until the frontal section of the ship was once again facing the Legionnaire. The firefight between the two ships resumed, the two seemingly oblivious to the black hole right next to them. Their ships groaned from the intense gravitational pull this close to the event horizon and many questioned the sanity of their commanders.
Sun-Sin: “Captain, Artillery crews are asking for permission to fire the main guns since they’re directly facing the Legionnaire!”
Hongxi: “Deny that, we won’t be here long enough for them to load even the first shot. Adjust Western side thrusters accordingly so we follow the original slingshot path!”
Sun-Sin: “Yes sir!”
The Yamato was now facing the Legionnaire where its frontal armor provided nigh invulnerable protection. The various shells fired from the Legionnaire would bounce harmlessly off the extremely low slope, only those few stray shots that impact the flat frontal armor penetrated, further rendering the already destroyed Macross Cannon even more unrecognizable. The Yamato was doing little in return however for it had no forward facing guns capable of penetrating the Legionnaire’s thick armor except for the dormant main guns.
Some of the bridge crew sneaked a peak at the right main screen amidst the chaos and gulped. They were so very near now to the edge of the black hole’s event horizon. Perhaps just a few more kilometers and the Eastern section of the ship would cross the point of no return. Meanwhile Hongxi’s attention was elsewhere, he stared intently at the ship’s slingshot course and trajectory. As soon as the ship reached the halfway arc point, he gave his command.
Hongxi: “Launch Eastern gravity mines! Detonate on my mark!”
Tact: “Launching Eastern gravity mines!”
A small port on the Northeastern and Southeastern Slant Armors of the Yamato opened up and out dropped two gravity mines. On screen, two blips representing the gravity mines appeared in front of the Yamato as it made the latter arc around the black hole. The blips stayed in place as the Yamato got farther and farther away while the pursuing Legionnaire got closer and closer…
Hongxi: “Detonate!”
The mines detonated just as the nose of the Legionnaire reached past them, sending out a massive and extreme wave through the already extremely curved space-time. This “wave” was what most referred to as gravitational pull (In Newtonian Physics), and the extreme curvatures of this wave was strong enough to even force ships out of warp. Likewise for a ship traveling at sublight speeds, the effect was tremendous and caused the Legionnaire’s path to lurch towards the left and straight through the event horizon…
For the bridge crew on the Yamato, it was as if time had stopped for their advisory. The Legionnaire was frozen in space, unmoving and its image would remain like that until it redshifted out of the visible spectrum. They knew it was simply a side effect of the extreme space-time curvatures and they could only imagine what was happening to the Legionnaire at that very moment. Or perhaps they should say lack of moment, for no events occurred within black holes. No time flowed, all possible directions pointing only inward into an infinitely small singularity. The entity known as the Legionnaire was no more.
The damaged Yamato finished its slingshot maneuver around the black hole and cleared its gravitational field. On the 19th hour of the 2nd day of the 4th month in the Tianxia calendar, the Yamato wasted no time in warping to its next point, home.
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Post by 白龍 on May 3, 2016 14:05:01 GMT -8
Geezus, The Bear has Landed. I repeat, the Bear has Landed!!
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