August 2015/09/15(Tue)18:47 No. 669820 ID: 971c8b
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”CAPTAIN…RYLORA… PLEASE, LISTEN. YOU MUST FLY US CLOSER. WE’RE THE ONLY ONES IN POSITION TO END THIS NOW!”

”AUGUST…I KNOW…BUT… IF WE’RE ANY CLOSER WHEN THAT THING GOES OFF…”
>We estimate 3 minutes until that thing's recharged.
"THREE MINUTES! IT WILL TAKE THEM THREE MORE MINUTES TO RECHARGE! OPEN THE THROTTLE! WE'LL CLOSE THE GAP AND BE BEHIND THEIR CANNON!"

I feel the distant hum of the engines rise to audibily of my damaged hearing and the breeze on my face quickens. The intercom crackles again and the captains voice returns with a flat fatalistic timbre to it.

"WE'LL STILL 'AVE A DECK FULL OF GUNS ON OUR BELLY!"
>jettison a spare fuel tank as a makeshift bomb?
>should clear out enemies on the deck
>use your airgun to take out or at least distract the minigunner.
"AND I’VE GOT THE CANNON AND... A PLAN… CAN'T YOU DETACH THE FUEL TANKS... JUST AS WE'RE ABOVE THEM?"

August 2015/09/15(Tue)18:52 No. 669821 ID: 971c8b
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"THAT'LL DROP THE WHOLE ENGINE SEGMENT... WE'D BE DRIFTING DEAD ABOVE THEM! WHY NOT DROP THE ENTIRE CARGO POD... IF IM GOING TO DIE LIGHT I’D LIKE SOME CONTROL OVER WHERE I FALL."

"...WE COULD DO THAT... BUT I COULD STILL CUT OFF A FUEL TANK MANUALLY... RIGHT?"

”JUST… MAKE UP YOUR MIND YOU PISSANT PRINCELING! FANCY A CLIMB BACK AROUND THE ENGINES PLAYING WITH FUEL HOSES AND MATCHES TILL WE EXPLODE!? YOU WANNA TRY PISSING INTO THE SPIKEY METAL UPDRAFT FROM THE FIFTY-FIVE ANGRY FISHBITCHES ABOUT TO START RIPPING OUR BELLY OPEN!? OR WOULD YAH RATHER WE JUST DROP THE WHOLE DAMN CARGO POD, SO’S WE CAN RIDE THE RECOIL SPIRAL WITHOUT A COUNTERWEIGHT OR CANNON… INTO A FUCKING THUNDERSTORM… I DON’T CARE… JUST CHOSE ONE AND DO IT!”

If we can't rise fast enough to be outside of the range of their guns we will have to be as fast as possible to not get shot up; go with the cargo pod drop.

As a side note we should remember to radio the others with our plan so they will know what is going on (especially if this interferes with later broadcasting ability) and our forces in the tower will be ready to take advantage of the gunners on the sub changing targets to us.

Kind of seems like going with the Cargo Pod drop will end up leaving us stranded in the high skies with no way to steer, land, and no real hope of rescue. I could be wrong, but let's not go with that. If the bottom/hull of the ship is too fragile to stand up to whatever small arms the enemy can produce (I highly doubt it's even possible to fire a hip-mounted minigun anywhere near straight-up) then we'll have to make our 'visit' as brief as we can, though any attention we divert from Kurtail gives him a window to make our action unnecessary. In any case I'd recommend attempting to make a more compact fuel-bomb drop, even if it takes more time than dropping the whole cargo pod.

So that's my recommendation. Manually detach/drop the fuel pods/cells, but only as a last resort if none of the other high explosive/penetration weapons come through.

>Kind of seems like going with the Cargo Pod drop will end up leaving us stranded in the high skies with no way to steer, land, and no real hope of rescue
For clarification, does dropping the cargo pod also drop the engine? I was getting the impression that it does not from the diagram, but I am not quite sure.

>>669821
...I'm actually favoring dropping the engine+tanks on them. Just make sure the airship's trajectory will land us on easily defended solid ground, and we'll be fine.

August 2015/12/02(Wed)22:43 No. 686696 ID: b09acc
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>For clarification, does dropping the cargo pod also drop the engine?
”WILL DROPPING CARGO ALSO DROP THE ENGINE?”
”WHAT? NO! I’M NOT DROPPING THE ENGINE.”
>sure the airship's trajectory will land us on easily defended solid ground, and we'll be fine.
”THIS WINDAGE SHOULD LAND US SAFELY IN THE FIELDS EVEN WITHOUT AN ENG-“
”NOT HAPPENING!”

>If we can't rise fast enough to be outside of the range of their guns we will have to be as fast as possible
>make our 'visit' as brief as we can
>any attention we divert from Kurtail gives him a window
”WE’RE COMING INTO RANGE NOW!”
”Fuck it! FUCK IT ALL…! FINE! I’VE GOT THE CANNON. YOU RADIO THE TOWER. TELL KURTAIL TO WATCH FOR AN OPENING. OH… AND READY TO LOOSE CARGO THE MOMENT I EVAC TO COMMAND!”

August 2015/12/02(Wed)22:44 No. 686697 ID: b09acc
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I cannot hear the hissing fittings rattled loose by the sonic blast, but I feel their chilled depressurizing sting whilst I rack the last ammo canister into the aircannon and twist the lever back to full power.

The crowd on deck turns… first a few, but then more. They appear to be earnestly gathering pointed arguments against the endeavor of manned flight.

We exhale, and start squeezing the trigger.

I fear our retort lacks most elegant graces, but for mobs we’ve few answers except steel for their faces.

August 2015/12/02(Wed)22:44 No. 686698 ID: b09acc
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Though marked out and staggered, their giant fights on bravely…

August 2015/12/02(Wed)22:45 No. 686700 ID: b09acc
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Canvas rips and glass shatters… resolutions misjudged? Maybe.

August 2015/12/02(Wed)22:48 No. 686701 ID: b09acc
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But a moment’s resistance, against blood slickened decks.

August 2015/12/02(Wed)22:49 No. 686702 ID: b09acc
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Reduces flesh into meat…

August 2015/12/02(Wed)22:50 No. 686703 ID: b09acc
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…and ships into-

August 2015/12/02(Wed)22:59 No. 686704 ID: b09acc
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”-WRECKS!”
A sharp snap of pain, my head jerks back and half my vision goes. Vaguely wonder for a moment who is screaming, ‘til I realize it was me.

August 2015/12/02(Wed)23:03 No. 686705 ID: b09acc
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Flopping back on the sheets, the feel and weight of the shot-shaft twisting in my face proves unbearable, it clatters painfully against the bent metal of my mask and I taste-smell the blood leaking beneath when I regain my footing.

“Stayed too long… my mistake… have to evac to command.”

August 2015/12/02(Wed)23:04 No. 686707 ID: b09acc
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A quick jerk releases some of the pain in my head.
If we hadn’t worn that… probably be dead.
An empty-handed clatter, some vision regained…
my hand now running red-wine stained...
refilling my thoughts… I need to escape,
finish this with cargo.. a bomb of great weight… of great… WAIT!

August 2015/12/02(Wed)23:06 No. 686708 ID: b09acc
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Baldgregus… cannot forget, must not leave him, true loyalty rewards.

In times good masters must brave…hurh… at times-

August 2015/12/02(Wed)23:09 No. 686710 ID: b09acc
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Stinging… burning…

August 2015/12/02(Wed)23:27 No. 686711 ID: b09acc
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”-BRAVE SWORDS!”
“Hoshit, What!? Don’t do that, you should be dead! I mean… we could have been dead!”
”I… lost my place.”
“Almost lost an eye is what you mean sir… another couple centimeters and you’d be wearing some of those specialty masks with only one hole.”
”Oh… it’s still in there? Sort of assumed, otherwise.”
“Nah, think ye’ll be fine…. or about as close as you get. Eye’s just swollen up is all. Needen some stitches though, that gash is a right mess… I mean, I guess I could sew it now if you wanted sir. I’ve stitched up some kilometers ‘ah canvas myself, but for your noble nose you probably want a real doc.”

August 2015/12/02(Wed)23:30 No. 686712 ID: b09acc
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“Right… right… Baldrekgus… is he okay?”
“Your bold? Haven’t seen him.”
”Haven’t… haven’t seen him? He was unconscious, on the bed, where could he go?!”
“Dunno, coulda fallen out… or bailed while I was busy trying to not crash us after we lost an aerostat. If I’d guess he mighta just bolted for it when we touched down. Think we’re in freebold territory now so you’d be lucky to see that one again.”

”Freebold terr- what *ATCH* that stuff burns, careful around the eyes. Maybe you should quit trying to rinse my veins empty and start patching me up?”
“Well, Sorry Sirrrr Commander. But you keep squirming like that and it’s make everything messier than it’s gotta be, ‘sides, I hadn’t noticed you being very concerned with cardiovascular health what with all that cutting you were up to last night. Hmm?”
”What…How do- nevermind, just, where are we exactly?”

“A soft beach only a couple clicks south of the hot zone, I think it’s the Freedbold marshes.. had to set her down after one of the lift segments blew out… probably shrapnel from your brother’s rockets.”
“So, we won?”
“I’dunno, was a little too busy trying not to die to check the mirror, but I don’t see how the fishies could possibly keep fighting after a thrashing like that.”

>>686712
Ah, ah. We probably won, then. Wear your scar with pride. See if you can get confirmation, after your medical care.

You need to get on the radio and confirm the situation. Or, more likely, have her do that. Assuming the situation isn't dire, you might see about alerting the proper authorities about just what went down, so they don't come in guns blazing at 'Unwarranted Southern Aggression'... Then get in contact with Sirius and whoever he's with. But first thing's first... we need to check up on what's happened. For all we know there might have been another two subs.

Ok, so our priorities are:
1. Confirm the battle is won
2. Contact Sirius and his ship / direct the remainder of the battle
3. Arrange for transportation four our group and whoever Sirius is bringing with him. (Maybe call in a favor from that freebold Peklendroi who we helped kill the demon-goat?)

August 2015/12/31(Thu)21:37 No. 691056 ID: 971c8b
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I wait for her to finish bandaging me up before trying to talk again.

”We should radio the others for a ride, or at least an update on the battle.”
“Power’s out… system’s designed to automatically cut the main circuit in the case of a crash”
”Well, then, we’ll just have to replace the fuse, set the switch, or whatever it is won’t we?”
“Well just hold up now ‘Commander’. You’re injured and there’s a good reason power cuts out like that. The impact probably sprung a leak or two an’ there’s no telling if the gasses reached the control conduits. So we-”

She pauses to pull me to my feet with a groan.

“-Meaning me- are going to have to climb back up to command, yank out the radio and take a bit of a stroll down the beach before we call anyone… there… now can you walk?”

”Seems like it… a little dizzy though… if you’d be so kind as to just grab my staff over there?”
She gives me an odd look between befuddlement, concern and frustration.
”I mean, yes… the spare aircannon barrel.”
“MY spare aircannon barrel.”
”Yes, your spare aircannon barrel, for your aircannon, for your airship. I was just borrowing it… for an experiment.”
“You’re actually completely widdershins, aren’t you?”

August 2015/12/31(Thu)21:48 No. 691057 ID: 971c8b
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”I am NOT!”
“Oh no… the signs are all there Commander. I mean, I’d heard a rumor or two that you weren’t exactly sociable an’ maybe even a bit excitable around women, but I didn’t expect you to be suicidal… or… have a ‘staff’.”
”I am NOT suicidal, and it’s a perfectly reasonable piece of scientific equipment.”
“Oh really? So we didn’t nearly just die in a frontal assault, that’s a relief.”
”We were the only force in position with the speed to assist my brother!”
“And the “staff” what’s it do?”
“MMMMmmmm-orgone channels *mumble* a polydimensional*mumble* reactive resonance*mumblemumble*cylinder array….”
…
”Look it hasn’t been tested yet.”
“Go on then, show me.”
”Nonsense! It might be dangerous in here… remember?”
“Agreed, it is dangerous in here, Commander. So, in the interest of removing us from danger faster, would you mind limping along midships with your ‘staff’…perhaps opening the door while I go grab the radio? Won’t be difficult, emergency release still works without power.”
”Fiiine… release is by the door?”
“Red lever, on the control box. Can’t miss it.~”

Animated August 2015/12/31(Thu)21:51 No. 691058 ID: 971c8b
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Boxes of supplies and other cargo torn loose from the cargo webbing have spilt across the misaligned floor.
”Right, there’s the lever, let’s get out of here and call it a day-“

Ah… but that would be convenient.

>>691058
Use the staff! Didn't use it in the main battle, may as well see what it can do!

She'll see what it can do, too.

Its the fishmen from the sub, so I don't think talking would work. If we evade they can either pursue or set the ship on fire from outside, and I don't think we can deal with either of those. Our least risky option is to shoot then, and drawing the pistol would be too slow so use the staff.

Well considering they HAVEN'T set fire to the ship from outside, let's not assume they can. However, you seem to have a gun of some sort pointed at you, so I'd definitely suggest evasion, ducking back into the corridor so you can pull out your pistol. Your staff, if I'm remembering correctly, was charged with a variant of the thunderclap thingie, but something meant to be potentially deployed at the submarine. As a result, it might be rather dangerous to activate in such close quarters. Evade, ready pistol, tell captain she needs to help repel boarders.

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)17:15 No. 710405 ID: 8fcb85
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>>691059
>Staff
>>691060
>Staff

These saltspawn are strong, but they’re not fast, and less so above the waves. His watery eyes barely pull into focus before we’ve met their gaze with the flourish of steel and wire. The aggression in our stance startles the amphibious halfman and he cowers back.

“Your lot want a fight then? Alright… HERE WE GOOOOO-

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)17:19 No. 710410 ID: 8fcb85
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”-OOOOoooooooo”
…
“Oh?”

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)17:20 No. 710412 ID: 8fcb85
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”Oh.”

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)17:24 No. 710414 ID: 8fcb85
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>>691762
>Pistol
>Evade
A mistake, a mistake, this was a mistake! A horrible, horrible mistak-

Animated Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)17:44 No. 710422 ID: 8fcb85
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There’s a horrible droning sound to our right; our feet are yanked off the ground leftward whilst the air is pulled straight from our lungs.

*vvvvVRROOOOOOOMMMMmmm*pop*thhhhuuuUUUUUUUMP*

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)17:49 No. 710426 ID: 8fcb85
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...

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)17:52 No. 710427 ID: 8fcb85
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“AAAaaaaaaahah, Haaaaa... wow.

I suppose the trigger is reactive or somesuch? The basic mechanism certainly worked though. We’ll probably want bracing against the recoil next time, easily could have broken something important there. Perhaps if we directed a sort of backblast counterbalance in the design-“

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)17:54 No. 710428 ID: 8fcb85
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Something moves among the waves down the beach. Not splashing in the waves, or cutting through them, but sliding deliberately and smoothly like a brass bearing-ball sinking though oil. No not something. Somethings.
“Shit!”

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)17:55 No. 710429 ID: 8fcb85
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My back gives out before we clear the lip of the hull. A torn stitch of last week’s assassination attempt births a stumble, yields a knocked shin, becomes the mad scramble for the far doorway.

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)17:57 No. 710433 ID: 8fcb85
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Their sabre bites into the support strut behind us while we lunge forward into the daylight; scrabbling over sand, wood and leather to grip the handle of a discarded axe.

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)18:00 No. 710435 ID: 8fcb85
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”Ghah!”
The axe’s haft snaps under the weight of the blow. I try to kick away from the heaving brute, but a second marginally more gracile opponent joins him; pinning my leg under his webbed foot.

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)18:04 No. 710438 ID: 8fcb85
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Skinny continues menacing me with a barbed harpoon while their companion labors for breath.
“Fangii?”
“Nei!”
“Galuuut, skalala ég taka að blása?”
“Nei! Þetta er mitt… FYRRUUUR ÞUG, ENNNDAR!”
The man-toothed shark whirls his saber and the evening sun catches like fire in the polished blade. Desperation sets our mind ablaze; twisting for leverage, the pistol pinned beneath me, could a shot into to the hydrogen cell at this range? IT MUST?!

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)18:05 No. 710439 ID: 8fcb85
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”Gu-*thap*-CK”
A short plume of green feathers sinks deep between man-tooth’s collarbone and armor. A series of soft pops, like bursting seedpods or bog bubbles, stirs in the grasses behind me and a verdant crop of smaller darts blankets the pair in an instant.

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)18:06 No. 710441 ID: 8fcb85
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The sharpish one hesitates, wobbly brushing some darts off his arm with an air of disbelief before trying to push his gasping companion back inside. The venom must have sunken in by the time the second volley falls as I hear deranged shouting and man-teeth starts to weep the sweet scent of gardenias; Wiltwine Toxin.

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)18:08 No. 710442 ID: 8fcb85
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The grasses erupt in whistles and warbling kobaltic warcries. Among the charging mob I spot some of the ‘demon hunters’: the scaled and cloaked commander, their tawny pelted spearman, and the longtailed arbalest notching back another bolt. Baldrekgus capers wildly, waving about a short steel pipe shouting something very loud but utterly unintelligible.

Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)18:22 No. 710445 ID: 8fcb85
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Before I can protest I am engulfed in a tide of looming noses and tiny mottled hands pulling us back into the marshweeds.

http://tgchan.org/kusaba/questarch/res/464906.html#515841
>flares to call on that airspace policing agreement
Before the adrenal rush of this day’s battle (and the incessant chattering of exuberant freedbolds) can overwhelm us I slide a hefty flare round into our pistol.

Animated Allotter 2016/03/19(Sat)18:26 No. 710447 ID: 8fcb85
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CHAPTER 9 END

>>710447
Wooh! The staff worked. Congratulations, master.

Well that went fairly well as fights against giant semi-organic submarines go.

>>710461
Yep. As an added bonus, we might be able to loot that guy's sonic rifle to study.