[LP CYOA] Epic

[Azira]

I'm not at all certain that the Masters know where our ball of dirt is located yet, nor that they have contact with anyone on it, but I cannot rule it out.
Whatever the reason for the Indus' mastery of the CF tech, it's a disparity we need to catch up on somehow, and it's probably a good idea to make some more allies.
As is, we've thrown our lot in with the ISC and by extension, the Higashi. The Dunamis are on the UNS side it seems, after their failed coup. Were they working for the UNS this entire time? Possibly.
It would really be for the best if we could unify Earth, but for that to happen we need some sort of external threat, or I just don't see it happening. Not that the arrival of the Masters' Death Fleet could be called a Good Thing, but without a significant external threat, and without some really strong focal figurehead like Ean, unifying the quarreling tribes of Earth seems a long shot. And here I am being optimistic..

 

[Baltika9]

The Dunamis are on the UNS side it seems, after their failed coup. Were they working for the UNS this entire time? Possibly.

They're mercs and mercs work for the highest bidder. Of course, after their coup the UNS/Indus are probably the only employer they can find right now. Still, I wonder who's leading them? If it's Erika or Shulgi, we may be able to strike a deal.

I'm not at all certain that the Masters know where our ball of dirt is located yet, nor that they have contact with anyone on it, but I cannot rule it out.
Whatever the reason for the Indus' mastery of the CF tech, it's a disparity we need to catch up on somehow, and it's probably a good idea to make some more allies.

Remember how the Master Shulgi was contacting was female and how she ended up in charge of our planet?

It's actually quite brief. After escaping the fall of his kingdom, he ran off to the north to hide and slowly master the voices in order to become powerful enough to fuck over everyone. In his quest for knowledge he found a way to reach the Masters directly, and he did so. He came into contact with the Master who would eventually end up in charge of your world after you made a mess of things, and she changed his outlook. It was also helped by watching Ean struggle blindly, not knowing anything but never giving up.

Now take a closer look at the Cult's beliefs

Beliefs

The Apostles of Hiranyagarbha believe that all life is interconnected and the energy of life flows from one being to another at every moment. To them, even inanimate objects such as rocks contain life energy, though in far lesser quantities than actual organisms. The primary message of their creed is that by diverting this life energy in certain ways, believers will be able to gain health, wisdom and prosperity. The ability to gather life energy is accrued within the souls of the believers, and higher ranking members have more memories of their past reincarnations unlocked by the Great Mother, granting them more power.

Another aspect of their beliefs, albeit a more controversial one carried over from the Tenchishinri, revolves around communion with God, who they refer to as feminine. They believe that God who lives outside the universe has turned Her ears away from the world, and to attract Her attention they must create God within this universe. The Golden Womb refers to the universe as egg and nurturer. By performing rituals to gather life energy, the Great Mother will transform her womb into a suitable receptacle for God and give birth to Her. The resulting child will attain divine transcendence, at the same time both inside and outside the universe. It is prophesized that after an Age of Strife, she will bring salvation to humanity.

The rituals of the Apostles commonly involve the use of Inanna flowers, which they deem to be a compound that allows them to get closer to God. Though the claimed hallucinogenic properties of Inanna flowers have yet to be proven, it has not stopped the Apostles from coming into conflict with the Imperial Shinar Corporation over ownership of the flowers.

their beliefs stink of a Master cult: the "Goddess" turned away from the world (the Masters lost track of our world after it was plunged into the Void, as confirmed by treave). so they have to create a suitable "receptacle" (meaning Avatar) to bring her into the world through gathering "life energy" (up to this point done by human sacrifice) into the Great Mother (meaning she wants to "ascend"); since Innana flowers contain "life energy" (again, confirmed by treave), it is natural that they be interested in them. And guess what this Age of Strife is, hm? Something tells me the Cult is behind this war, it was started by the Indus, after all. Of course, if the Masters' Grmdark Death Squads are coming to purge the weeaboo, it might not be that bad after all.
Edit: that, or they are a Sphere Cult. Take a look at the chapter's name: Chapter Two: The Earth Sphere Conflict; and note the "communion with God" part as well.

 

[Kipeci]

A

 

[GreyViper]

Great fight treave didnt expect this turn out that well. I suspected Naim would be handicapped with the prototype, because lets be hones we designed it with our powers in mind. I rather expected him to die and prototypedestroyed, but that can happen yet if he pilots Anhur again.

A) I want to see Empress in action, doing what she does best, cloak and dagger.

 

[Zwist]

A) Sidequests! :D

Because dicking around with an essential prototype is exactly the kind of thing Bioware taught me to do.

 

[ScubaV]

I'm not sure how you guys thought not using our powers was a good idea in either situation (although there were more total 2A's than 2B's), but at least we're not dead.

I'll vote A. With the Anhur in bad shape, one pilot dead, and the other injured I don't think taking the high risk option is a good idea.

 

[Baltika9]

Tentatively going for B: I do not trust the cult enough to engage them when they are holding all the cards. Chances are, if our "sister" asks for us in exchange for helping them get to Earth, she will get no argument from the Empress, Kyrie (speaking of whom: guys, forget about her, she showed very clearly who she sympathizes with more here and we have much more important things to do than engage in chest-thumping competitions with her suitors) or Nahim and perhaps even Grimrock (great tactician and courageous fighter we may be, the Imperium has many more like us; no one life outweighs the Imperial Family). Not that I don't want to investigate the cult, but I would rather do it under more favorable circumstances.

Then again, those may not always be present and this may be the best we'll get. Open to any arguments.
Edit: I would really like the specs for Imperial warships, though and I wonder what would've happened had we used our powers and the elixir; and also what would've happened had we stayed, would the reinforcements for the UNS come in all the same?

 

[Storyfag]

B

 

[treave]

If you use the powers early, without using the serum, you fizzle out before you manage to get back to the Kaguya-hime. You become more of a threat earlier on and attract the White Fangs attention immediately. This means that Naim and Jean leave you behind after you bail their asses out because saving the prototype is more important and they're soldiers, not heroes. Thankfully, you get captured alive. Staying on the bridge was actually the safe choice no matter what - the captain is experienced enough to pull your asses out of the fire by improving on your plan even without your input. You missed out on him ramming the fuck out of the Ghostlot to protect the prototype CF. Things would've been a lot more dire for the pilots (well, for Naim at least) had you not been on the field; the enemy mechs are piloted by Dunamis superhumans after all.

If you stayed, the reinforcements come in. The Indus warship is equipped with nuclear warheads and blows the fuck out of the colony while you guys are in it. That doesn't end very well for obvious reasons.

As for this update, the Dunamis could have killed you, but didn't. Same reason why you'd have been captured alive in the other scenario. Though you didn't score any kills, you did damage two of them badly. And I'll be writing up a military status/hardware update next.

Really.. An orphanage in space? Right. Is subject zero there?

No, Subject Zero is on the Kaguya-hime.

 

[Bloodshifter]

No, Subject Zero is on the Kaguya-hime.

So do we get 3 guesses and the 1st 2 dont count?

 

[Kipeci]

The codex failed to make the worst choice?

 

[treave]

Intermission: Major Armed Forces of the World (4025 A.C.)

Manpower:

Neo Shinar Empire:
Combat: 500,000
Support: 830,000

Higashi:
Combat: 410,000
Support: 850,000

UNS:
Combat: 625,000
Support: 650,000

Indus:
Combat: 150,000
Support: 440,000

Notable Space Assets:

Warships:

Kaguya-hime Class Cruiser
Affiliation: ISC/Higashi
Manufacturer: ISC Heavy Industries/Great Eastern Manufacturing
Armaments:
1 x mega particle launcher, 2 x 2-barrel particle cannon, 2 x missile launchers, 8 x anti-fighter guns
CF complement: 9
Launch catapult: 3
Overall length: 312 m

Pimsin Class Cruiser
Affiliation: Neo Shinar Empire
Manufacturer: ISC Heavy Industries
Armaments:
2 x 2-barrel particle cannon, 2 x linear rail-gun, 6 x missile launchers, 4 x anti-fighter guns
Fighter complement: 6
Launch catapult: 1
Overall length: 378 m

Arina II Class Battleship
Affiliation: Neo Shinar Empire
Manufacturer: ISC Heavy Industries
Armaments:
1 x mega particle launcher, 4 x 2-barrel particle cannon, 8 x missile launchers, 8 x anti-fighter guns
CF complement: 6
Launch catapult: 2
Overall length: 520 m

Ankida Class Heavy Battleship
Affiliation: Neo Shinar Empire
Manufacturer: ISC Heavy Industries
Armaments:
2 x mega particle launcher, 6 x 2-barrel particle cannon, 4 x linear rail-gun, 12 x missile launchers, 12 x anti-fighter guns
Fighter complement: 30
Launch catapult: 5
Overall length: 980 m

Sen-hime Class Cruiser
Affiliation: Higashi
Manufacturer: Great Eastern Manufacturing
Armaments:
3 x 2-barrel particle cannon, 20 x missile launchers, 6 x anti-fighter guns
Fighter complement: 6
Launch catapult: 2
Overall length: 309 m

Ginza Class Battleship
Affiliation: Higashi
Manufacturer: Great Eastern Manufacturing
Armaments:
6 x 2-barrel particle cannon, 12 x missile launchers, 8 x anti-fighter guns
Fighter complement: 10
Launch catapult: 3
Overall length: 488 m

Doge Class Cruiser
Affiliation: UNS
Manufacturer: ISC Heavy Industries
Armaments:
2 x 2-barrel particle cannon, 2 x linear rail-gun, 2 x missile launchers, 6 x anti-fighter guns
CF complement: 5
Launch catapult: 1
Overall length: 350 m

Gynoid Class Battleship
Affiliation: UNS
Manufacturer: United Industries
Armaments:
1 x mega particle launcher, 4 x 2-barrel particle cannon, 4 x linear rail-gun, 6 x missile launchers, 10 x anti-fighter guns
CF complement: 10
Launch catapult: 2
Overall length: 669 m

Shulgi Class Super Heavy Carrier-Battleship
Affiliation: UNS
Manufacturer: United Industries/Vizharga Industries
Armaments:
4 x mega particle launcher, 12 x 2-barrel particle cannon, 12 x linear rail-gun, 18 x missile launchers, 30 x anti-fighter guns
CF complement: 30
Launch catapult: 5
Overall length: 2769 m

Mahakarya Class Carrier
Affiliation: Indus
Manufacturer: Vizharga Industries
Armaments:
1 x 2-barrel particle cannon, 6 x missile launchers, 12 x anti-fighter guns
CF complement: 10
Launch catapult: 2
Overall length: 411 m

Combat frames:

XF-25 Anhur

Affiliation: ISC/Higashi
Manufacturer: ISC Heavy Industries/Great Eastern Manufacturing
Frame type: High performance general purpose prototype
Reactor: Compact fusion reactor - 4000 kW
Propulsion:
main thrusters: 6 x 240,000 N (high mobility configuration)
verniers/apogee motors: 18
Armaments:
2 x mono-molecular daggers, 2 x head-mounted 35 mm vulcans, 1 x beam saber, 1 x beam rifle, 1 x 280mm rocket launcher, 1 x shield, mounted on left arm.
Overall height: 15.3 m

XM-26 Onuris
Affiliation: ISC/Higashi
Manufacturer: ISC Heavy Industries/Great Eastern Manufacturing
Frame type: General purpose combat frame
Reactor: Compact fusion reactor - 2800 kW
Propulsion:
main thrusters: 2 x 240,000 N
verniers/apogee motors: 8
Armaments:
1 x mono-molecular sword, 2 x head-mounted 35 mm vulcans, 1 x beam saber, 1 x beam rifle, 1 x 280mm rocket launcher, 1 x shield, mounted on left arm.
Overall height: 14.3 m


RG-05 Vizala
Affiliation: Indus
Manufacturer: Vizharga Industries
Frame type: General purpose combat frame
Reactor: Compact fusion reactor - 1380 kW
Propulsion:
main thrusters: 1 x 180,000 N
verniers/apogee motors: 4
Armaments:
1 x mono-molecular sword, 1 x 60 mm machine-gun, 1 x shield, mounted on left arm.
Overall height: 10.6 m

RG-09 Vizala II

Affiliation: Indus
Manufacturer: Vizharga Industries
Frame type: Space superiority combat frame
Reactor: Compact fusion reactor - 2750 kW
Propulsion:
main thrusters: 2 x 240,000 N
verniers/apogee motors: 8
Armaments:
1 x mono-molecular sword, 1 x 75 mm machine-gun, 1 x rocket-lance, 1 x 280 mm rocket launcher, 1 x beam rifle, 1 x shield, mounted on left arm.
Overall height: 14.0 m

UNS-1001 Xolotl
Affiliation: UNS
Manufacturer: United Industries
Frame type: Land specialization combat frame
Reactor: Compact fusion reactor - 1550 kW
Propulsion:
main thrusters: 2 x 140,000 N
verniers/apogee motors: 4
Armaments:
1 x mono-molecular sword, 2 x 60 mm machine-gun, 1 x back-mounted 280 mm rocket launcher.
Overall height: 13.0 m

UNS-1011 Centeotl

Affiliation: UNS
Manufacturer: United Industries
Frame type: Space superiority combat frame
Reactor: Compact fusion reactor - 2190 kW
Propulsion:
main thrusters: 2 x 140,000 N, 2 x 80,000 N
verniers/apogee motors: 6
Armaments:
1 x mono-molecular sword, 2 x 60 mm machine-gun, 1 x 280 mm rocket launcher.
Overall height: 13.6 m


UNS-109X Tepeyollotl
Affiliation: UNS
Manufacturer: United Industries
Frame type: Prototype heavy assault frame
Reactor: Compact fusion reactor - 6750 kW
Propulsion:
main thrusters: 4 x 380,000 N
verniers/apogee motors: 6
Armaments:
2 x heat claws, 2 x 6-barrel beam spray guns (claw-mounted), 6 x gun-slaves, 1 x ultra-long range beam rifle.
Overall length: 59.0 m

 

[Azira]

So, is this where we do an occult ritual to open up a rift in space and summon the Ankida battleship to help us out?

 

[Baltika9]

I see, the NSE has the largest regular military force and the best old-school navy of the lot. Now, serious questions: do we know exactly which ships we are linking up with (Ankdia or Pimsin); how effective are anti-fighter guns and launchers against the CFs and, most importantly, does anyone know how effective CFs are against warships?

This means that Naim and Jean leave you behind after you bail their asses out because saving the prototype is more important and they're soldiers, not heroes.

Goddammit, we missed a chance to ditch these assholes, twats and losers.

If you stayed, the reinforcements come in. The Indus warship is equipped with nuclear warheads and blows the fuck out of the colony while you guys are in it. That doesn't end very well for obvious reasons.

So, brutal assrape mode is back?

No, Subject Zero is on the Kaguya-hime.

Right, Senya is an artificial lifeform, how naive of me to think otherwise. Bonus points if Nahim is his twin and our "sister" will try to break us by "you aren't even a real human being, Senya!" and our harem beginning to apply field emotional therapy. Speaking of Nahim, do true bros exist somewhere in this setting or are we the only ones that can conjure them up from nowhere?

 

[Bloodshifter]

Truly to be Senya is Suffering!

 

[treave]

I see, the NSE has the largest regular military force and the best old-school navy of the lot. Now, serious questions: do we know exactly which ships we are linking up with (Ankdia or Pimsin); how effective are anti-fighter guns and launchers against the CFs and, most importantly, does anyone know how effective CFs are against warships?

This is by no means a comprehensive list. I'll probably update it as it goes along; once we return to Earth, there'll also be land hardware. We're meeting up with three Pimsins. There's only one Ankida in existence right now, and it's with the bulk of Space Fleet at Sin's Eye.

The current problem with fighting CFs is that it is difficult to hit because of their ability to pull off unpredictable maneuvers in all directions. Anti-fighter guns, basically CIWS, have better chances than missiles. Mega particle launchers are BFGs in a sense, so more suited for destroying ships. CFs are extremely effective against warships once they close in simply because a warship can't hit what's on it. That's why they need escorts like fighters or other mechs. The danger to warships will multiply many-fold once CF-held beam weapons become common, as there is no real effective armor against particle beams right now unless you want to pile up decametres worth of plating.

Speaking of Nahim, do true bros exist somewhere in this setting or are we the only ones that can conjure them up from nowhere?

There is no bro but what you make.

 

[Azira]

Bugger this. Let's head to the Asteroid for some RnR.

A

Tentacle lovers? Nope. Not this turn.

B

 

[Baltika9]

I see. Breaking through to Earth will be rather difficult then with this assortment, but doable if we reach our reinforcements without any interference and maybe sway Erika's/Shulgi's Dunamis group to our side (seriously, who else would let us live under these circumstances?). And considering the laws of ol' Murphy, that's wishful thinking. On the other hand, this may be our best chance to get in touch with the Cult right now and find out our origins (ever notice how every single character related to Ean, in one way or another, is an orphan?), so wasting it will be foolish.

Edit: also, something tells me that if we go to the Atman asteroid, we will be the only survivor of our merry band here. Gut feeling.

By the way, you are putting in loads of work and thought into this and it shows. Thank you, treave, for thinking this up and following through, it is a pleasure to play and participate in a LP like this, ran by someone who puts his heart and soul into it (even though I personally consider the idea of armies based on giant robots, well, lacking and would love nothing less than to ditch the mechs and focus on creating an extremely proficient army and navy, strengthened with superhumans and mini-nukes) and is generally an all-around bro.

Last question for now: the fuck's a "rocket lance?"

There is no bro but what you make.

So no one remembers Ean's "Path of the Bro", even though his name is revered. Talk about Jesus allegories.

 

[treave]

The giant robots are here to stay. I'm not gonna rip all this shit off anime just to abandon it halfway.

A rocket lance is a lance with rockets on it for maximum thrusting. Might as well ask what the fuck's a 'chainsword'.

 

[Azira]

A rocket propelled lance?
Why? Most modern tankbusting munition is shaped around melting an amount of metal and using that as a thermal lance.
This other take on it just seems silly, but then again, so does rocket punches, a stable of mechs fighting in anime.

I shouldn't overthink this. Carry on treave.

 

[treave]

ROCKET PUNCHES



edit: No updates for today, I've got some crucial experiments to complete.

 

[Baltika9]

AH-HA! So that's the real reason we're not playing Ean! You're afraid that he would single handedly bitch-slap all this Giant Robot nonsense out of this planet!
Ah well, they have their uses too...like mobile artillery rape platforms and close-engagement mecha-samurai. I just hope we're not taking this to Red Alert 3 levels of absurdity.

As for the vote, I made up my mind.
Come, let us see how they fare against Imperial firepower

and Hoshikawa "Creed" Senya!

 

[Storyfag]

I just hope we're not taking this to Red Alert 3 levels of absurdity.

\\

Red Alert 3? You speak as if there was a Red Alert 2. Everyone knows it was a single spinoff, and the series only continued with the two sequels to the original Command and Conquer.

 

[treave]

I... I'm not sure what you mean. It's already absurd. The moment I talked about God Emperors on the first page we dived into the depths of absurdity.

 

[Storyfag]

I... I'm not sure what you mean. It's already absurd. The moment I talked about God Emperors on the first page we dived into the depths of absurdity.

Watch a few youtube videos of the single existing Red Alert (especially the briefings), then compare them to youtube videos of the game I claim does not exist. You will understand. Painfully.