Shadows of Zeon Quest: Aphelion #4

You know, that is a good point, I'm not thinking properly. Okay, instead of unblooded rookies, entirely untrained kids that we just picked up off the street. Wait, even better: We'll have a mobile suit "coincidentally" crash nearby them.

Ideas for "misinformation" to leak?

Nah man, the best way to draw out the Gundam protag potential is to have the rookie face a mobile suit in a gladiator style arena.

>>The old guy is probably your best be for coordinating a strike.
phew, barely made it

Oh no, not Carrina.
I was assuming that user was referring to how the war winning single pilots tended to be random kids that drop into the cockpit, and that these rookies are juuuusssttt experienced enough that that isn't an accurate descriptor

I think in this universe Armuro is the only one that fell into a Gundam. In all the other wars our husband was the main hero, and the main protags of Zeta and ZZ never rose.

>>The old guy is probably your best be for coordinating a strike.

Pull the old Normandy trick. The main attack is actually a distraction while we do something else somewhere else. Turns out that's a lie and the forces supposedly committed to the second prong were actually held in reserve to assist the first attack

You may have a point there. Christina started out training in a Gundam and Emma got a (sorta) Gundam too. And they both did pretty okay in the Grim Guard during the first quest.

This and also insert a joke on how many lovers our husband had during the war. Most know the propaganda number, but only a handful know the accurate number, which tends to surprise people for both reasons.

>working

Will we see any of the old gang, King? Or will it just be Carrina and Ross kicking ass and taking names on the Red Planet?

“You're really committed to this?” you ask, a hint of surprise creeping into your voice.

The first Captain nods. “This problem will be handled by the Mars Navy's new Jegan models. The Transit Fleet's intervention is neither necessary nor desired.”

You nod thoughtfully, the beginnings of a plan forming in your head. “Understood. However we have called in two vessels like this one as reinforcements, which will arrive in a few hours. If your strike falters we will take those reinforcements in from the opposite flank. Understood?”

Rossweisse picks up on your plan quickly, while the Captain bristles at your tone: good. That's the reaction you were counting on from both of them. “I suppose I don't have the authority to stop you? Very well. I suppose we'll just have to make sure you have no reason to commit your forces.”

The two younger Captains turn to leave, while you gesture subtly for the third Captain to stay behind. He looks down at you, seeming to understand that you have a plan in mind. Rossweisse for her par leaves to prepare to make your little bluff into something that stands a chance of working: the Sericea has been fitted with projectors to assist with communication, of the sort originally planned for Haman's flagship which was never built. Combined with decoy balloons and Minovsky interference it should be possible to make it seem as if you truly have three ships at your disposal: and if these really are veterans you're dealing with they remember what happened the last time three mobile suits from your organization were all in the same place.
>1/2

“Can you do us a favor?” you ask.

“I assume you have a plan you need help with?” the older Captain grumbles. “I heard about you from Clark's report. What do you need?”

“What is your mobile suit compliment?” you ask, maintaining a businesslike tone. “Types and roles, please.”

“Six total,” he replies in an equally direct manner. “Three Jegans as attack, three Lotos as artillery support.”

“We need you to hold those machines in reserve,” you inform him. “Support the advance, but don't fully commit. We also need you to send a message to Captain Clark, have him stand by with whatever forces he has. You'll know what to do.”

“I don't like it one bit,” he frowns. “But I suppose your judgment is better than a rookie's... alright, count me in.”

“Good luck,” you nod.

“Yeah... you too.”

Now, to decide your best use of time before the assault begins. The two rookie Captains are likely to move out with their commands fairly quickly, if their ships haven't already cast off, so you may not have much time.

>Sortie immediately, position yourself a few kilometers north of the suspected defensive position.
>Take a few moments to make your "bait" look appealing: falsify comm records to make it seem like you called for backup.
>Assist Rossweisse in setting up your dummy fleet?
>Assist in pre-flight checks and tuning on the Viola?
>Other?

>>Take a few moments to make your "bait" look appealing: falsify comm records to make it seem like you called for backup.

>Take a few moments to make your "bait" look appealing: falsify comm records to make it seem like you called for backup.

>Take a few moments to make your "bait" look appealing: falsify comm records to make it seem like you called for backup.

>>Take a few moments to make your "bait" look appealing: falsify comm records to make it seem like you called for backup.

>Take a few moments to make your "bait" look appealing: falsify comm records to make it seem like you called for backup.

Leak a scrambled/encoded comm over at Mineva's way too, if she's also keeping an eye out on this operation. It might narrow down on the Palace mole too if ever they try to eavesdrop.

Actually, I've been thinking. What are Titan remnants doing on Mars? Aren't they Earthnoid supremacists?

Not really. Titans are opportunists, the Earthnoid supremacy thing was just a convenient bit of propaganda. They're about power, not ideology. And Mars is a rising major polity, I can see them wanting to get in on the ground floor with that.

Rolled 9, 4, 9 = 22 (3d10)

Gotta eke out a living, I suppose.

It's not out of the question that they're being used as an easy scapegoat though.

Just because a war ends doesn't mean that soldiers disappear. They all end up somewhere, and by the end most Titans had all but abandoned their original pretense for wanting power and authority.

There's not even any solid evidence at this point that they're ALL Titans personnel.

True. They might not even be Titans at all. I mean, we're basing that on them using old Titans materiel, but the Titans had a pretty huge armory. I imagine a lot of people use their old military surplus. I know the EFF does, the Bar-GM is just a Barzam that's been given a casemod to look like a Federation suit.

>>Take a few moments to make your "bait" look appealing: falsify comm records to make it seem like you called for backup.

“ALICE,” you announce, strolling over to a nearby communications terminal, “we need a hand with something.”

“I assume it has something to do with your intended duplicity?” the AI responds through the speakers. “Certainly.”

“We need to falsify records within the Martian government's communications bureau,” you inform her, beginning work on a counterfeit message to the Transit Fleet. “We need you to backdate the communications logs to make it seem like we sent the message last night.”

“I can do that. Give me a few minutes to make the necessary arrangements.”

“By 'arrangements' we assume you mean hacking, right?” you grin.

“You know me too well.”

The body of the text is mostly buzzwords and military jargon to the effect of “send us more ships”, but you employ a fairly standard cipher to “disguise” it. Anyone who knows how these sorts of communications work should be familiar with this little trick, and will realize that the name “Marida” is the key, so it should be fairly convincing. However there is one rule that the top brass in the Transit Fleet have all agreed to, and it's a rule that Mineva will know as well: never use each others' names as a key.

To anyone who knows you personally it's obviously a ruse, but you hope the source of the leak will fall for it.

By the time the hackjob and the false message have been seen to, the Sericea is already underway.

“We've finished our bait,” you inform Rossweisse as you join her on the bridge. “How did your contribution to this little ruse turn out?”

“I could tell they're fake,” she admits, “but perhaps not from a distance, even despite my familiarity with the ship. For an enemy under Minovsky blackout, it should suffice.”

“Good,” you nod.
>1/2

>I'll sortie immediately, scout ahead and report any contact.
>We should hang back and spread as much M-particle interference as possible before the attack.
>I'll launch when we're in range, you can hang back and let me direct missile fire.
>Other combat strategy?

>>We should hang back and spread as much M-particle interference as possible before the attack.
>>I'll launch when we're in range, you can hang back and let me direct missile fire.

>>We should hang back and spread as much M-particle interference as possible before the attack.

By the way, can someone remind me what is our mobile suit?
And maybe our ship specifications?

>I'll sortie immediately, scout ahead and report any contact.
If the guy that got away ran straight back to base, odds are there's gonna be a lot of movement on their end. Gotta see if they're either hunkering down, or if they're deciding to evacuate.

Either way, eyes are needed on them in case a change of plan is required depending on the situation.

Rolled 9, 6, 8 = 23 (3d10)

>what is our mobile suit?
King mentioned that it was basically an F91, but with some changes.

>beam emitter on the left wrist that functions as a spot gun/saber
>three funnels stored at the back end/underside of each VSBR
>no radiating fins, no MEPE
>larger leg thrusters, similar to GM Sniper II
>fully-integrated psychoframe instead of Bio-Computer
>tandem cockpit setup for an optional weapons/intercept officer

Only thing I got from the ship is that it only has the capacity for 1 mobile suit.

>>I'll launch when we're in range, you can hang back and let me direct missile fire.

>We should hang back and spread as much M-particle interference as possible before the attack.

I'll need to take a 5-10 minute break after this, but sure. Now seems like an appropriate time to go over the relevant details.

The Viola is a "16-meter"-class mobile suit, built on a smaller frame than the mobile weapons of the One Year War (based heavily on the canon F91). The frame itself is a full psychoframe built from Gundarium-Psy, which is essentially stacks of psycommu receptors set into a light-weight composite. The armor is also similarly designed: in the hands of a Newtype not only is it quicker than one would expect but its armor is actually more durable.

Its built-in weapons are two "Variable Speed Beam Rifles" that draw directly from the reactor, which can be set for wide blasts or penetrating shots. The rear portions of the rifles also house recharge racks for six beam funnels. Its CIWS include a pair of 90mm cannons in the chest and a pair of 60mm cannons in the head. It carries two beam sabers in a charging rack inside the hip armor and a beam shield on the left wrist, with a spare shield generator in the other hip armor. Forward of the beam shield's mount on the arm is a projector that can serve as a spot gun or a short beam saber. Its handheld weapon is typically a "small" grenade-launching rifle. Its cockpit is designed to function with either a single pilot or a pilot and a "weapons officer" who split the duties.

Other than a very carefully selected and balanced weapons loadout, a powerful psychoframe, and its insanely high thrust, it has no "gimmicks".

The Sericea is the smallest warship capable of carrying a mobile suit and a developed enough psychoframe to make interstellar travel possible. It mounts one rail cannon, psycommu-guided missiles, a few laser point defense turrets, two holographic projectors, and dummy launchers. All of its functions can be managed by two Newtypes or even a single exceptionally skilled Newtype, though it carries a small crew for security and maintenance.

I thought for sure it'd retain the Ikebana's fighter/bomber configuration when the dual cockpit was mentioned. Though I'm guessing the reduced size kinda runs counter with that design philosophy.

That's a gigantic popped pimple right there.

Reminds me of the time I convinced a classmate I should try popping one of his big acne bumps and yellow puss came out like a fire hose when I just slightly squeezed it.

SPLORRRPRRFFT!

I think the idea is to make the secondary pilot less essential, given the fact that there's an increased demand for Newtypes in non-combat roles. So no transformation/combination system, no sub-arms, and less advanced electronics for them to monitor. On the plus side, we've got a larger funnel complement (twelve as opposed to the Ikebana's nine), VSBRs to make up for the lack of sub-arms holding extra weapons, and given the high thrust and low gravity of most extra-terrestrial battlefields we should still be flight-capable.

Precisely. There are a few other concerns I may get into "naturally", but at a certain point I decided an infodump was always going to be an infodump.

As for the funnels, there are six *total*. They're difficult to use under full gravity, let alone while managing all the other systems, so the number was reduced. The result is something that can fill all the roles of specialized mobile suits to a lesser degree, with a shitload of GOFAST to compensate.

>writing

Would be great if Veeky Forums was actually about traditional games and not faggots roleplaying on the internet.

Oh, sorry, got confused by the phrasing. Well, six funnels is still nothing to sneeze at. The Nu has six funnels and just look at what it can do (and if I recall correctly we use the same sort of fin funnel that would have been equipped to the Nu in canon, so it's a fair comparison). I'm just fine with the Viola's armament. We're the lovechild of the F-91 and the Nu, that's more than enough for near any engagement we're likely to get into.

“If our ruse is going to work we need to ensure that there is plenty of M-particle interference,” you frown. “We'll need the particle levels at combat density before we can begin our attack run.”

“So that means we hold position outside sensor range,” Rosse nods quietly. “Head downstairs. I'll keep you apprised.”

You quickly suit up and head to the hangar, finding the Viola standing ready. In the reduced gravity you don't even need a gantry to get into the cockpit, as you can easily leap from handhold to handhold until you can drop into the hatch and strap in. The viewscreens come alive all around you, displaying vital information on your weapons and systems status.

“She's all fueled up and ready to go,” mechanical Chief Hanlon tells you. “Happy hunting, Captain.”

You raise the Viola's hand in a salute before hitting the controls for the elevator, which lifts your machine up to the partially-exposed launch ramp on the Sericea's dorsal hull.

“We're in position” you report to Rossweisse. “Status on M-particle interference?”

“90% combat levels,” she reports. “Martian forces have engaged the first defensive line near cave entrance Nikki below the rim of Arsia Mons' caldera.”

The volcanoes of Mars are known for their lava tunnels: in fact some of the first temporary shelters were located in similar structures on the flanks of Pavonis Mons nearby. It's not unusual that industrial facilities would be built into these tunnels, and when the permanent industrial colony was established in the collapse caldera of Arisa Mons they would have been largely abandoned. That would have made it simple for the terrorists to move in, especially if the locals didn't raise too much of a fuss about it.
>1/2

“Get us an overhead, ALICE,” you order, and an inlay frame appears on your viewscreen's lower right-hand corner. The Jegans of the attacking force have moved up under artillery support from their motherships, but fire is still coming down on them from defensive perimeters nearer the cave entrance.

Something is wrong. There are too few defenders dug in here.

>Strike towards the “Nikki” cave entrance, see if you can get the defenders to commit.
>Initiate an attack on the nearby “Jeanne” cave entrance, which should be connected. See if taking their flank gets a rise out of them.
>Hold back, try and have ALICE help you discern more about the situation.
>Other?

>Initiate an attack on the nearby “Jeanne” cave entrance, which should be connected. See if taking their flank gets a rise out of them.

>Other?
This feels like a trap or a deception. If I were them, I would mine the tunnels and collapse them. Try to sense the area for feelings of deception.

>>Initiate an attack on the nearby “Jeanne” cave entrance, which should be connected. See if taking their flank gets a rise out of them.
bully the frenchie.

>Initiate an attack on the nearby “Jeanne” cave entrance, which should be connected. See if taking their flank gets a rise out of them.

>Hold back, try and have ALICE help you discern more about the situation.
Nuh uh. No way am I stepping into a Martian Jaburo.

>>Initiate an attack on the nearby “Jeanne” cave entrance, which should be connected. See if taking their flank gets a rise out of them.

>writing
>dice+3d10, DC is a meager 6

Rolled 6, 6, 4 = 16 (3d10)

Rolled 3, 10, 1 = 14 (3d10)

Sure thing, boss.

Rolled 2, 9, 6 = 17 (3d10)

That's a pass, right?

It is. Be back soon.

“Rosse, you never went to school... but have you ever read anything about the Caves of Mars project?”

There's a short moment of silence while Rossweisse tries to recall the information. “I believe so. What about it?”

“Didn't phase three determine most of the larger lava tunnels on this flank of Arsia Mons were connected?” you ask. “If we wanted to attack their flanks, for example...”

“They'd be expecting us to strike at Jeanne,” she finishes, “and would have massed much of their mobile suit force there. Shall I deploy the dummies and lay in a course?”

“Affirmative,” you reply, a grim smile spreading across your lips. “Let's give them a good show, shall we?”

The Sericea's engines burn hard to push her in closer towards the flanks of Arsia Mons, with your two decoys following close behind. As you guessed artillery fire throws up great plumes of dirt and rubble ahead of you as the defense near Jeanne take the opportunity to adjust the fire on their heavier guns. You'd guess these are in the neighborhood of the old 180mm recoilless rounds judging by the size of the blasts: just enough to be dangerous.

“Viola, commencing launch!” you announce, firing your machine off the powerful catapult and into the thin Martian atmosphere ahead. A second burst of acceleration slams you into your seatback as your own thrusters kick in, and you careen towards the source of the incoming fire.
>1/2

“They're taking the bait!” Rossweisse reports. “Missile barrage from your 10 o'clock, I'm pulling the Sericea back. If these dummies aren't actually firing CIWS it'll give us away!”

Your mothership holds position a short distance outside what Rossweisse has judged to be their maximum firing range as you roll to bring your own machine cannons to bear on the incoming missiles. What few you don't blast from the sky impact harmlessly around you, gouging deep impact craters into the rusty terrain. You're still a ways out from the cave entrance itself, around which the artillery is likely clustered: a series of large contacts on your sensors are closing in, no doubt more offensively-oriented mobile suits. From this distance they look vaguely Zeonic, and smaller than any One Year War type, but to your eye they're mostly just utilitarian monstrosities in partly 'pixel'-pattern desert camo.

In the distance, three machines have peeled off from the battle at Nikki cave entrance and are approaching at high speed.

>Engage the smaller force, reduce their numbers before their reinforcements can arrive.
>Call Rossweisse for a missile barrage: just a little closer and you'll be able to adjust their trajectories to take out the enemy's artillery support.
>Let the Sericea pummel anyone that tries to leave Jeanne, while you engage the three newcomers: those have to be elites.
>Other?

Also, choose one of the following:
>Call in the Martian Naval reserves
>You can still sow further disarray for them

Well, I suppose it's only right that they should have the Den'an Zon, if we're in the F-91.

>Engage the smaller force, reduce their numbers before their reinforcements can arrive.
>You can still sow further disarray for them

>>Engage the smaller force, reduce their numbers before their reinforcements can arrive.
>You can still sow further disarray for them

In my mind it's the archetypal "ugly-ass late UC Zaku-alike", so while it's not LITERALLY the Den'an Zon it'd look similar

>>Engage the smaller force, reduce their numbers before their reinforcements can arrive.
>You can still sow further disarray for them

>Call Rossweisse for a missile barrage: just a little closer and you'll be able to adjust their trajectories to take out the enemy's artillery support.
>You can still sow further disarray for them

Just need a couple of psycommu guided missile to mentally hijack while they're in transit.

No, I got that. But the Viola isn't literally the F-91, either. Just drawing points of comparison.

>Engage the smaller force, reduce their numbers before their reinforcements can arrive.
>You can still sow further disarray for them

>Call Rossweisse for a missile barrage: just a little closer and you'll be able to adjust their trajectories to take out the enemy's artillery support.
>Call in the Martian Naval reserves

Also, have Alice engage in electronic warfare, focusing on gathering intelligence.

Fair enough. I'm just taking the opportunity to keep things clear, that these aren't one-for-one representations but rather the closest canon equivalents.

>writing

Also,
>3d10, DC 7
>you've successfully drawn out their newer models

Rolled 5, 1, 6 = 12 (3d10)

Rolled 4, 4, 5 = 13 (3d10)

Rolled 3, 9, 7 = 19 (3d10)

Thanks for the save, buddy.

>I like to imagine this is the Ball equivalent of a "thumbs-up"
>writing

“ALICE, get us a rundown on the incoming trio,” you order. “We'll disrupt the oncoming attack force, then we'll be free to mop up with the Sericea's missiles.”

“Affirmative,” Rossweisse reports as you charge towards the newcomers. There are six of them in total, and it appears your instincts were correct: these are newer, post-war models after all. Smaller, and fairly well covered with thrusters. Each carries a single close-range weapon of varied descriptions, with a twin-barreled mount of some kind on the left wrist. Their small size and apparently simplified construction seem appropriate to an organization with finite resources, but still... something instinctive tells you the design is a little too well-conceived for a terrorist network.

These six machines are much more like what a regular armed service would field, like the Republic of Zeon's navy special weapons branch or the Luna Sphere's defense forces.

“Scatter!” you roar as the VSBRs on your Viola's back swing forward in a low arc to lock into their firing positions. You grasp them, setting them to an intermediate density and spread, and fire at the center of the formation.

One of the strange machines takes the full force of the blast head-on, vaporizing in a chain of sympathetic detonations as its own fuel and conventional weapons cook off. A second ignites a beam shield on its left wrist to avoid taking the brunt of the shot, and manages to escape at the cost of burning out the defensive device. It seems you were right: these machines are far superior to what you'd expect of a terrorist group.

The remaining five mobile suits scatter at high speed, mostly seeming to try and use the rocky Martian terrain to their advantage. As you expected, the artillery can't fire on you now that the formation has broken up all around the area.
>1/2

“Confirm, you seeing our footage?” you ask Rossweisse as a pair of beam shots narrowly miss the Viola. You felt them coming a mile away, and didn't even need to raise your own shield to avoid them.

“Confirmed,” she replies. “That was a beam shield? Too fancy.”

“Agreed. We're starting to think they may have outside backers.”

>Call in a missile strike, danger close. Have Rossweisse direct them into their targets.
>Have Rossweisse delay the incoming trio while you work on the remaining five suits.
>Break away, draw these group back towards their own defensive lines. Keep the fight away from Sericea.
>Other?

Also,
>Call in the Mars Navy
>Still more we can do: the longer we wait the greater the confusion

>Have Rossweisse delay the incoming trio while you work on the remaining five suits.
>Call in the Mars Navy

>>Have Rossweisse delay the incoming trio while you work on the remaining five suits.
>Still more we can do: the longer we wait the greater the confusion

>Other?
Call a missile strike, suppress them and fall back at the last moment.

Also use this window to insert the reserves.

>I'll give an extra five minutes or so for voting, just in case there are any stragglers

whoops, drifting off at my computer, had a long day.
>>Have Rossweisse delay the incoming trio while you work on the remaining five suits.
>Still more we can do: the longer we wait the greater the confusion

>writing

>3d10, DC 6

Rolled 5, 5, 6 = 16 (3d10)

Rolled 7, 4, 10 = 21 (3d10)

Okay!

Rolled 10, 9, 4 = 23 (3d10)

“Rosse, delay the incoming three,” you order. “We'll clear out these five. A clean sweep may force them to re-deploy their older machines as well.”

“Roger that. Missiles outgoing.”

ALICE finally gets back to you with an inset window showing the three attackers as they approach. “These three are bulkier than the five you're fighting, and much more heavily armed. Despite that they appear to be faster as well.”

One of the remaining attackers bursts from cover and opens fire, forcing you to jink backwards where two of his comrades are waiting. They think they're being clever, but you block the incoming shots from your left with your shield and send a blast at the one to your right. You've already determined the weakness of this design: it's very efficient, but they have to raise their arm to fire their ranged weapon. That movement makes it impossible to defend and return fire at the same time, so if you shoot at the same time they do they're helpless.

You can feel the four pilots starting to panic. They realize you've figured out a strategy to beat them, and they're growing bolder in their approach. The one who lost his beam shield rushes you with a beam saber ignited only to have his arm removed by your wrist-mounted beam blade: their arms don't have as many thrusters mounted on them, so once they commit to a strike they're vulnerable to a faster counter.

“Three down,” you announce as you cripple the already disarmed machine in front of you with a beam blast to the crotch and a burst of cannon fire to the optics.
>1/2

"Problem," Rossweisse announces. "My missiles only slowed them down briefly. Then their signals briefly multiplied... as if they released dummies of some kind. They're still coming."

Dummies? How strange. You guess you'll have to figure out the situation yourself sooner or later.

Meanwhile, it seems that the third Captain has committed the forces he's been holding in reserve, initiating the main attack at Nikki cave. You'd have preferred to wait, but you suppose now is as good a time as any. You take a moment as you avoid a beam blast to confirm with Captain Clark that it's fine to initiate the full attack.

>Rossweisse, shell the shit out of these three. We'll intercept the elites and figure out their capabilities.
>Keep up the barrage, see if you can't focus on one and reduce their numbers.
>We don't like the sound of that. We're going to set up a trap in case they're too difficult to face at a numeric disadvantage.
>Other?

>>Keep up the barrage, see if you can't focus on one and reduce their numbers

>>Keep up the barrage, see if you can't focus on one and reduce their numbers.

>Keep up the barrage, see if you can't focus on one and reduce their numbers.
I suppose it's probably best if we don't split the Sericea's attention right now.