Task Force 2 - Atlas: Comms

[pliant fjord]

Check the top Pinned comment

[humble urchin]

Oooo, really like the hovercrafts used as "compartments" for who's where, very nice

[pliant fjord]

We're gonna be stuck at the gate for one turn since hostiles are present. So not this turn but next.

Also, the enemy vessel is a Battlecruiser with 2 armor, so the current recommendation is for VTOLs to stay docked for safety.

[turbid kernel]

Got a 2nd VTOL in the fleet too

[jagged pagoda]

A sound idea

[twin cypress]

nice

[twin cypress]

not so nice

[jagged pagoda]

If we get bogged down with the BC, it’s gonna get a face full of TF1 the turn after.

So long as we survive in good health, all will be well :)

I’m not trying to jinx us I promise

[wintry pawn]

So I suppose I do nothing this round?

[jagged pagoda]

No

But soon™️ you will

[pliant fjord]

You're welcome to crew up a module if you like, otherwise I think there are some leftover crayons in the Marine Barracks

[wintry pawn]

Maaaan they always eat all the green ones and the green ones are my favorite.

[pliant fjord]

ikr? lime flavored

[humble urchin]

one must ask if they actually do have different flavors or not

[alpine condor]

But the red ones taste red though

[twin cypress]

Im a bit scared im gonna do everything wrong that could do so

[pliant fjord]

in all seriousness, the "Deployment Logistics" tab has a diagram of open modules to choose from. We're not gonna be able to drop this turn, so it's ship actions only

[pliant fjord]

Jarn! Welcome back bud. How goes things in your world?

[wintry pawn]

Yeah I was wondering if there was anything for me to do and if it's even necessary for me to place an empty order.

[humble urchin]

Ay, just need to calm down really, there's nothing to be afraid of.

[twin cypress]

i mean its all new

[humble urchin]

If you got doubts or questions atlas & everyone else in #meta-comm is here.

[twin cypress]

i barely know anything

[pliant fjord]

There's more crew than there is actions this turn I think, but yes, you'll need to place an empty order. If nothing else for practice.

[humble urchin]

Time to learn then !

[pliant fjord]

If you're looking for a "how to VTOL" tutorial, hit up @high pike , they've been playing VTOLs for a while, and know everything. More than me!

[twin cypress]

thanks, I will definitely try that!

[alpine condor]

I spent 16 hours driving from 13:00 yesterday to 05:00 today. In other words, i'm tired

[pliant fjord]

yikes. I did that once. never again

[alpine condor]

Ye, it's rough

But will it be as rough as crossroads? nobody knows

[pliant fjord]

Orders are open, and due <t:1750888800:F>

If you're not sure how to do this, check out [this post](#1385616625293725886 message)

If you haven't done so already, check the Deployment Logistics tab for available modules to crew up!

[solid hare]

Orders submitted as is... warchants

[pliant fjord]

Looks pretty good, no need to change it this time, but next time I might include an intention to launch or not (pls no this time), it's up to whoever is inside the pods.

[fast cobalt]

i am back on the endurance right, awhile ago i remember i got shifted over to the banksia i think it was?

[pliant fjord]

yea, had an AWOL player screw up the modules, but we got it all sorted, and all ODTs are on the Endurance together now

[solid hare]

Sounds good, thanks, mostly I was just thinking preoaration since we may not launch the breach pods

[fast cobalt]

good, more fun to drop into hell together

[pliant fjord]

Amen. You all caught up on the plan?

[fast cobalt]

i am looking at the doc now

[pliant fjord]

My favorite 7 words

[fast cobalt]

my favorite words would be " hey you just won the big lottery "

ok so once in range looks like we are hitting the star port and making any AA near by have a very bad day

[pliant fjord]

I wish we could get there this turn, but the enemy is here 😦

[fast cobalt]

Lt. atlas has been making Pvt. Dave do a lot of SRM drills after he missed his shot last time so. he got this

[humble urchin]

#meta-comm message
Confirmed one thing, when we'll deploy out of Atlas, VTOLs/IFVs/HVTOLs/etc won't be able to transport anyone
Only when they're unloaded (so, outside the orbital) will they be able to get on to transporting people

Got that cleared away at least for when we'll deploy outta you boys

(copied over from iron hammer)

[pliant fjord]

That's true if you deploy from the Starport. You can ALSO deploy using our Deployment Modules.

Your VTOLs can launch from our VTOL bay, with infantry inside

[humble urchin]

Reading Q&A, even using vehicle bays no cargo in 'em.

[pliant fjord]

That seems wrong. How would any orbital be able to deploy infantry from their VTOLs?

[opaque pagoda]

Orders sent, Gristle is ready to rock

[humble urchin]

Dunno, I'm assuming "if vehicle bay no nesting, then vtol bay no nesting either"

Maybe ?

[pliant fjord]

Ohh, that's gotta be for landings. Orbitals can't deploy units they don't have a bay for.

[turbid kernel]

I think they can deploy TF infantry but not BG infantry since they're still in storage

[humble urchin]

I mean, vehicle bay, it's not like you're gonna deploy an MBT in space 🤣

[turbid kernel]

Not yet

[humble urchin]

Yeah, I read all the Q&A, think it was mentionned at some point that you're deploying a group that's in the cargo I think

yeah, here

[pliant fjord]

Right, damn.

Ok, Operation Deuce is a wash then. We can't deploy you from space at all.

[humble urchin]

It's like we're the infantry IRL in a logi truck IRL, we can't just have one dude leave during transport, we gotta keep transporting him as a unit, get back here soldier !

[humble urchin]

Or is it 🤔

Step 3.5 Taskforce declares they currently have a battlegroup inside their cargo bays. Using up the Large Supply (5 players per large supply) (These bays are now considered Battlegroup Storage)

Step 4. After picking a target area to land the battlegroup must now be deployed to the surface. The larger orbital’s that hold the most cargo can’t land without access to a surface based starport so units with landing capability must be used. This is called Deployment Capability (DC), VTOL’s, Heavy VTOL’s, Heavy Air Transports, Orbital Drop Pods, Orbital Dropships, are all ways a battlegroup can make planet fall. See equipment that offers (DC) to see what orbitals use to unload a battlegroup. Remember (DC) is taskforce wide. A VTOL on one orbital can help deploy battlegroup members from all over the taskforce. Not just the ones with VTOL Bays. This is to allow for any kind of builds to work together.

Step 5. With the Taskforce now in High Orbit the players put in orders deploying our forces to the combat area. They say who they are carrying as normal and the invasion begins. Good Luck.

So, if I understand correctly

[topaz rivet]

We should be able to deploy with Atlas units. I think we couldn’t use BG units to deploy out of our cargo bays

[humble urchin]

If we land at a starport, we're deployed as a group, and cannot have russian nesting doll as we're all getting deployed like passengers on a bus.

However, if we can't land at a starport, then there's the "units with landing capabilities" that must be used, aka DC, to transport a battlegroup on the planet, thus allowing VTOL, HVTOL, HATs & orbital drop pods and dropships to drop. However, the orbital drop pods/dropships then cannot have nesting doll in them, but VTOL/HVTOLs/HATs can to be able to transport people to land, and it will make deployment slower.

...Have I got it right ?

This is extremely confusing to wrap my head around I won't lie.

[plain dew]

@pliant fjord for evasion, fighters must travel at least half their movement correct? I think fighters are move 7. Does that mean fighters have to move 3, or 4 hexes? I am double checking the map so to try and optimally plan where we go so that we pick up all the enemy fighters with intercept.

[humble urchin]

When you need to look at 3 different docs (Q&A, strategic rules & the classes and equipment doc) to figure it out, I feel like I'm not to blame for taking some time to learn how this all works 😅

[pliant fjord]

3.5 range. The hexes are just a guide for distance. 1 range is the distance from the center of one hex to the center of an adjacent one.

[plain dew]

Also, will fluffle fighters be joining us?

They could possibly screen the tail end of TF3 incase any enemy fighters move faster than us.

[turbid kernel]

They're debating it. Seems they might have the speed for a single sweep and then run out with their Taskforce

[pliant fjord]

I think that's right. We can still deploy some of you from space since we have certain bays.

but we HAVE to take the spaceport to deploy the rest of you

[plain dew]

fluffle fighters would be green, or something to that effect to pick up their back end.

[humble urchin]

Or slowly deploy everyone else, technically with enough hats/hvtol/vtol, eventually everyone will deploy

but wait does that mean if don't have a starport we could deploy our vtol/hvtols or not to help transport our own BG ?

fuck me I don't know.

This is complicated as fuck, I'm almost regretting trying to do this now 🤣

[pliant fjord]

That's the nesting rule again. Things in Cargo can't deploy on HATs or VTOLs

[humble urchin]

nono, unless they're getting deployed

[humble urchin]

step 4 from here

[topaz rivet]

But they’re explicitly listed as providing DC

[humble urchin]

The larger orbital’s that hold the most cargo can’t land without access to a surface based starport so units with landing capability must be used. This is called Deployment Capability (DC), VTOL’s, Heavy VTOL’s, Heavy Air Transports, Orbital Drop Pods, Orbital Dropships, are all ways a battlegroup can make planet fall.

If: no starport
Then: Use Deployment Capability, VTOLs, HVTOLs and HATs

[pliant fjord]

ok then yes, original plan was solid

[humble urchin]

Otherwise

[pliant fjord]

Deuce is not a wash

[humble urchin]

If: starport
Then: No nesting you fucker, just deploy out of the orbital normally >:(

See ?! I'm not crazy, this IS hard to wrap your head around 🤣

It's the interaction between the nesting rule that is never anywhere written in the core rules + the new rules that makes it hard to understand imo

[pliant fjord]

... time for coffee

[humble urchin]

If the nesting rule WAS mentionned, then it could have been clearly laid out in the core rules the one exception, which is deploying from an orbital without a starport onto a ground map

[humble urchin]

Get one in my stead, I don't drink coffee

[topaz rivet]

Our problem currently is getting the larger vehicles on the ground

[pliant fjord]

It's not on the doc anymore (it was out of date), but Operation Deuce involved using BG12's and STORM's HVTOLs to deploy all the heavy vehicles.

(if we don't have the starport)

[turbid kernel]

Yeah, we can't deploy the tanks without the starport. it's absolutely critical we maintain control

[humble urchin]

HVTOLs ?

I would have said HAT but, no airport kek.

[pliant fjord]

no airport that we know of

might get super lucky (not feeling very lucky so far)

[humble urchin]

I'm gonna make one big heap of text to try and get it boiled down

[pliant fjord]

I'll try a short one.

[turbid kernel]

I believe that, since we don't have a vehicle bay, there's nothing for the HVTOLs to pull the vehicles from. The HVTOLs can't pull out of cargo directly I believe.

[pliant fjord]

If you're deploying from a cargo bay at a Starport: All units will appear next to the starport. Nothing loaded (just supply), nothing embarked. You're "Spawning in."

If you're deploying from a cargo bay on an Orbital: You can be carried by transports that are capable of docking with the Orbital, for the purpose of deploying to the surface. You're "In Cryo."

[turbid kernel]

Ah, my bad, apologies

[pliant fjord]

all good, I thought the same earlier

[humble urchin]

So, uh, from my understanding, how do you get a Battlegroup deployed from a Taskforce ?

First off: Is there a friendly starport you can deploy on ?
If yes, then as laid out by the Shack Q&A, you can "deploy a battlegroup as a full group" and as cleared out by Shack in [meta-comm here](#meta-comm message) musn't transport anyone as to not nestdoll, you can however transport supply.
So, you come out of the starport with your VTOL with no troops in it (exept small supply), and then after being out of the orbital, you can catch up an infantry/engineer/etc to transport.

If no, well, Plan B: Deploying from orbit
As laid out by the Strategic doc, you must now instead of just getting out of a starport, use your Deployment Capability (DC), allowing VTOLs, HVTOLs, HATs, Orbital drop pods & Orbital dropships to carry units, making this the one exception to the nesting doll mechanic, to put them on the planet.

...I think I almost got a headache from this.

[humble urchin]

Oh.

That is explained in such a more simple way xD

[topaz rivet]

“Orbital drop ship” means orbitals with landing gear and ground unit bays?

[humble urchin]

I DONT KNOW

[turbid kernel]

Yeah, ships that can land and deploy on the ground lol

[humble urchin]

https://tenor.com/view/uehara-himari-bang-dream-bandori-anime-dizzy-gif-25147627

[wide quiver]

We have a vote.

[pliant fjord]

Unfortunately, this vote won't impact our current turn. Since the presence of hostile ships means we can't rush to the transfer point, we're gonna be on this map for 1 turn regardless. We'll hit the ship as hard as we can this turn, then then we'll assess our status from there.

If we decide we need to stay and fight with TF1, we can still turn around before we leave.

That would definitely delay our ability to secure the starport, though.

[plain dew]

If TF1 can't handle one BC we have bigger issues to worry about 😂

[pliant fjord]

Their lead ship has FOUR MBCs. I'm not worried at all

[topaz rivet]

Plus the unknowns but hopefully we’ll take a bite out of their fighter screen

[tired patio]

Got a question

The pink path is the fighters flight path?

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1382037040438181950/1387097454612054066/image.png?ex=685c1aac&is=685ac92c&hm=da14ee8d27cbe4f62d797c57c6d196a7215ed04fea5d7e3c3737e2c4fa9f8b65&=&format=webp&quality=lossless

[pliant fjord]

Since they're entering the system already deployed, they should have enough speed to loop around

[tired patio]

Looks like they are looking to intercept the enemy warship?

spicy.

[pliant fjord]

hoping to engage the enemy fighters if possible

they'll be in evasive and couldn't damage the BC

[tired patio]

Just noticed they are flying over what we think the BC might do.

and not what we think the Fighters might do.

[pliant fjord]

Good point. Don't have much of a clue what the fighters are doing other than harrassing the lumarans

Maybe they should go heading 0, N?

[tired patio]

We can only make our best estimate.

[pliant fjord]

I'll leave that up to our active Pilot @plain dew

-# see Shack's comments above

While you're here, the Civvies can dock with us right?

[tired patio]

Yeah. Dog fighting is on them. But the overall plan is looking good.

Those orbitals are Light Freighter in size. So yeah they can external dock. But they cant land inside any of our bays. To big.

[pliant fjord]

excellent, I'll add that to Q&A

[atomic comet]

As a hat I presume I'm hanging tight onboard. Will look for an open station to man or maybe just chill in the break room.

[tired patio]

Best to just say "hey if its an orbital. It works under standard orbital rules"

boarding rules also give you some ideas how units can move between ships that are not inside the taskforce.

[pliant fjord]

That was the assumption, didn't know if they had incompatible docking ports or something

[tired patio]

and how those limitations interact.

[atomic comet]

Late to the language party, I'm learning Dutch

[tired patio]

Like not being able to dock unless the ship is willing or immobile.

Howdy Failhouse.

[pliant fjord]

Ok, last question - can destroyed ships be boarded for intel?

disabled, yes, that's covered

-# nooooo come back

[jagged pagoda]

Sorry I jumped the gun 😅

[pliant fjord]

na you're good, you reminded me to make the post

[jagged pagoda]

Ah, cool :D

[royal sequoia]

Hey guys. Do you have a message you'll send to the civilians once you go through? I have a crew that will try to talk to them, should we guide them your way?

[pliant fjord]

"Join up with the formation ahead if you can, otherwise, take cover behind our large ships, and dock with the Rapid Sentinel for medical aid."

We're explicitly not mentioning that reinforcements are coming. We want the enemy to look right at us so TF1 can ram their MBCs up its ass.

[royal sequoia]

nice

we should tell them to go to the gate then

and hopefully the bots try to chase us

while we bravely run away

[pliant fjord]

@jolly verge you may want to select a specific target so the other scanners can coordinate around you. You can refer to it by it's coordinate location or with a picture. (If so, please delete and resubmit)

Otherwise, you can leave it as is if you want, it's functional.

[jolly verge]

ok, but wich one do we want? I assume the large one and the BC will get scanned by Fluffle

[pliant fjord]

true, but the big ones take multiple scans to learn everything. You can also select a piece of information to learn

HP, Armor, Weapons, Crew, etc

[jolly verge]

For Comms Intercept its needed to scan the target in the same turn if I understood correctly, is it needed that this is done by the same Taskforce or even Orbital?

[pliant fjord]

na, as long as it "is being scanned this round" you can hit it with Com-int from mega-long range

I'm assuming limited to the same tactical map

[vestal ice]

What if anything still needs crewing on The Endevour

[jolly verge]

fyi im deleting and resubmitting

[pliant fjord]

Check out the Deployment Logistics tab.
Looks like Endurance's HMG could use a reloader.

[atomic comet]

Would a crew on an hmg just say they're firing on ships if any are in range?

[pliant fjord]

yea. They can pick a target if they want, but HMGs can only target non-orbitals or screen against missiles

So "I target any enemy Fighter in range" is fine

[plain dew]

Do we know the size of this craft that was destroyed? @pliant fjord (id ping shack but i dont wanna be converted into bot materials. )

[strange wigeon]

I believe it was mentioned that it was destroyer sized

[pliant fjord]

Appears to have originally been a Corvette based on ship token.

[vestal ice]

Question: crewing a drop pod? Does that mean I am getting in it getting ready to be deployed or standing by to launch it for another person?

[plain dew]

Theres 2 pieces of information that are missing that will make it harder to predict what the bot fighters will do. The first is the bigger (?) in 4416. I was originally assuming this was a friendly orbital, and was the one with the destress call, but upon clarification from Shack, I realize those blues are not friendly fighters, but light freighters, which has me now concerned that there is a second large bot ship in the area.

The 2nd piece of missing information is what direction the friendly civies are going to fly. If we get confirmation that they are planning to heed TF3 hail to follow them out of the system towards the station, will know their general direction of travel and can move to intercept for them.

[strange wigeon]

Oh it was damn. RIP Second Wind. We never had a chance to save you

[pliant fjord]

This one I asked a while back and got a clear answer 🙂

You can drop yourself, the drop pods don't require an action to use.
When you drop, you appear on the tactical ground map having consumed no movement, and can immediately take actions.

[vestal ice]

Right that’s super helpful. So I can assume in the first few turns there is no point crewing the drop pods? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick for our initial route

[pliant fjord]

I do wish we had this info, but we don't. We'll be hailing the Civvies inviting them to join Fluffle's or our Fleet formations for some protection.

[plain dew]

Will just have to assume they will listen then.

[pliant fjord]

Other than that, perhaps a heading of directly North might be best

[royal sequoia]

Fluffle is probably going into more danger, so I think hiding the civilians between atlas's big ship energy and then victorium's even bigger ship energy is a must

[pliant fjord]

yea, no real benefit to crewing the drop pods, but we can still use the chart to reserve them for when we do drop

[royal sequoia]

sadly the mechs won't see much action until we reach planet side

[jolly verge]

may i ask you if you as fluffle coordinated your scanning effort for next round already?

[royal sequoia]

which will take a little while apparently

[royal sequoia]

nope

I am considering holding off on the triple scanner for the next sector

in this area, I think what really needs scanning is the second big question mark

[plain dew]

Can our orders for the fighters be "Link up with civilian ships in 4317 and escort them north towards Nav 1?" Not sure if that is the right play even if we can, but want to know what order options we have.

[pliant fjord]

@ Fairlie Yea, you'll be the first, so whichever target you pick, we'll coordinate that info to the other groups

[jolly verge]

ok then ill do the other big ? and I hope @maiden belfry will do the enemy BC in our face, otherwise we have to use our Comnms-I on the big ?

[pliant fjord]

This seems a little too conditional, better to just pick a direction or draw a path. Plus, if you're in evasive, you won't be tanking any hits for them, just following.

[royal sequoia]

if you engage those enemy fighters, then the civilians will be safe either way I'd say.

[jolly verge]

if somebody else want to mark their own scanning intentions the screenshot is here

[plain dew]

cant you intercept while in evasion?

the fighters would have to engage us then if we are in their hex

[jolly verge]

I noticed Aloha has also Comms intercept as equipment in the sign up sheet but its nowhere in the crewing tab, did they decide to not bring it with them?

[pliant fjord]

yea, their ship was full of CS

not enough room to bring it

[pliant fjord]

Intercept isn't an order type. You can declare it as part of your intentions, but it's down to your movement path

So you have to make a guess where they're headed now

[strange wigeon]

such a cool looking battlecruiser

[plain dew]

I see. If its light freighters and they can move 3, then I guess fighters would move 2 spaces for every 1 that they move... so if they try and get behind our fleet formation, they should move to 4216/4116. So we could potentially link up with them in 4216. I am also assuming enemy fighters with their red coil beam lazers thingies dont need to reload, so they will probably stick on the civies rather than needing to fly back to the BC.

[pliant fjord]

That tracks with what I'm aware of yea

[jolly crypt]

that is currently the trajectory the fluffles fighting might be flying, tho its still pending approval from one of our fighters

[plain dew]

hmm... hmm... maybe we let TF3 fighters dogfight around the civies, and TF2 range out to deal with those unkown/get eyes on the unknown ship.

we could pop out a few hexes and still have movement to regroup with our orbitals for quick rearming

[pliant fjord]

Attention Atlas Crew

All Crew to Battle Stations! Orders are Open!

TF Fluffle has encountered a hostile Battlecruiser and fighters chasing friendly assets at the gate. We're moving to engage in a Fly-By tactic, hoping to reach the transfer point soon.

Fighters, report to Reaper and prepare to engage.

VTOLs, return to Bays

Medics, standby to receive possible injured Lumarans.

No one Crosses the Picket Line

I'll be less available for the next few hours (gotta cook and clean my apartment for guests). I'll be able to check in later tonight. Good Hunting Everyone!

[atomic comet]

Who declares that we use up an LS for supply?

[pliant fjord]

TacCom map I believe

I'm not sure if we start supplied or not though

[topaz rivet]

It would make sense if we did

[turbid kernel]

My worry with that is TF3 only has 4 fighters to the enemies known 5. If rolls are bad enough, even spread out through their formation, there's a real possibility of them losing one

[strange wigeon]

They're on evasion so we'd have to get REALLY unlucky for that Assuming everyone puts in for evasive as was being discussed

[turbid kernel]

It's possible though. But nothing is without risk.

[ember python]

Heya, Atlas. I won't be able to check in much today. I don't see any reason why I shouldn't dismount and come crew something on Endurance. Feel free to theory craft me crewing something while you folks are scheming up plans

[pliant fjord]

sounds good, just don't forget to submit orders by tomorrow

[ember python]

wilco. 6EST is the deadline, yeah? not that i want to wait right until the deadline, or anything, just good to know

[pliant fjord]

feel free, TacComs get 24 hours after that to get our version of orders in

earlier does help to get others on-board with what the plan is though

[topaz rivet]

All right, that’s it for the laziest marines in the fleet

[merry summit]

Judging on the pic of the BC it has a fore mbc and 2 portside hmgs?

[turbid kernel]

Hey everyone! A lot of people still haven't added themselves to the station or bay they think they'll be in on the pinned Google Sheet under the "Deployment Logistics" tab. Not an issue for this round but if you want I can add anyone if react react to this message. We already have assignments so it's just putting you name in the box that matches that assignment.

[merry summit]

Also what stations don’t have dedicated crew at this point?

[turbid kernel]

Correct, and most of the active stations are manned currently unfortunately

There's empty crew spots in the VTOL bays and 1 flight deck on the Banksia but VTOLs and HATs aren't going out so that's not a guarantee of action either. You can also wait to see if a fire breaks out onboard if we take damage

[merry summit]

Fire control station is probably good

[turbid kernel]

Very well, in the mean time what ship are you on. I can put your HAT in the bay for record keeping

[merry summit]

I'm on the picket line

It doesnt particularly matter if the fighters/hats are kept together or split does it?

[turbid kernel]

On the ship? No it's just record keeping. so we know who has an open spot on a flight deck for someone to use

Okay, I added you to Flight Deck 1, Bay A on the Picket Line.

[plain dew]

As Nalla pointed out, there is a very low chance that happens. Certainly possible tho if they also eat fire from the BC. But TF2 fighters will be moving very close to the same space, so we should also be eating some shots with them.

[turbid kernel]

Fair enough, want me to add you to the deployment logistics tab?

[plain dew]

ill add myself in a bit, just at work now

[turbid kernel]

No problem, just offering to any incase they're busy. Just don't want to do it without their permission.

[strange wigeon]

Assuming no new contacts (Not a safe assumption perse) Every single one of those fighters would have to win a coin flip to shoot one of you down (so long as you are all evasive in formation)

its possible, but unlikely.

And keep in mind, the freighters might be taking some shots, and the MBC on the battlecruiser might target one of the actual orbitals instead of fighters or something.

[plain dew]

if their fighters are like ours, its a 25% chance theyget in a hit (with D4 attack into fighters 3 evasion)

[strange wigeon]

Oh it's a d4 not a d6? oopsies. Then its a much lower chance of getting shut down.

Not impossible, but HIGHLY improbable.

[merry summit]

its a 5v4?

[plain dew]

yeah, the only issue is if those other unknowns swing in and the 4 fighters take shots from them in addition.

BUT our TF2 fighter flight path should be thru there, so we should hopefully eat those shots (while in evasion)

[sage perch]

I need to move to at least xx17, but ponderous is confusing

[merry summit]

what about it?

[sage perch]

I don't know if 4117E is a valid destination because I have heard mixed things, but that's my plan, @rapid sail You are good to put your orders as manning the gun

[merry summit]

it should be right? collisions arent a thing so I dont see why it wouldn't work. though you might be showing your engine block fully depending on the BGs next planned move

[sage perch]

E would be facing towards the BC

next turn I just go straight north

pictures incoming once I get home

[merry summit]

ah. i was under the impression that ponderous meant you couldnt choose facing, always pointing in the direction of travel

[sage perch]

I don't know, it's confusing, and if that's the case my one forward gun is useless

[strange wigeon]

It means you can't make a 90 degree turn. You need to move in loops if your turning around.... Basically, your always moving diagonally if you need to turn.

Your in 4116 and you WANT to get to 4216. As your moving forward, you won't be able to make that sharp turn, so you'll need to make a loop.

4116 -> 4215 -> 4316 -> 4216

From there you can continue straight towards 4117 or straighten south to 4217. At least thats how you'd need to move if you wanted to say, turn around right now.

[merry summit]

if only shack answered the question directly this morning instead of saying no flips or barrel rolls lol

goes for a few messages but no definitive ruling just "make it look ponderous" basically

[strange wigeon]

As a ship, wherever you are facing you can only choose to move in 3 directions.

Up left, Up, Up Right.

[topaz rivet]

A b a b start

[merry summit]

half-back should be another option/upgrade possibly. that would make for some interesting smaller orbitals

[strange wigeon]

I don't think it's quite as strict (As in what I just said you'd never be able to get to 4216 but mke it as close as possible... I'm sure shak wouldn't have ap roblem with the route I put above instead of a full circle.

Perrin.... moving at half back is giving me some great flashbacks to playing age of sail games and moving backwards in a frigate to constantly rake 3rd rats and above rears with my broadsides because they were too big to make those turns lol

[merry summit]

almost as good as doing anchor drifting lol

[plain dew]

What counts as a "swarm/horde" unit for the purpose of rapid fire weapons?

Is that based upon unit count in a hex, or is that for units like infantry or a keyword for an enemy unit type?

[strange wigeon]

Specific units... I believe in C1 there were some large bug swarms of sorts
we had none in C2 and 3

For this I unno.... Maybe we get a big swarm of small drones or something

[plain dew]

Okay, just making sure HMG for orbitals cant shoot rapid fire at a bunch of our fighters grouped up

[strange wigeon]

Fighters are not swarms. Even if they move in formations

[sage perch]

I though ponderous was you can only move in the straight line between start and end, and you only attack at the end of your movement

this is why I am confused and just going to wait for the Captain to return

[plain dew]

Im sorry for the insanity/clutter but hear me out:

[jolly verge]

are you sure the green ones arent our (TF2) Fighters alt path?

[plain dew]

I mapped in TF3 fither/storm movements based upon what was posted above. I also mapped in estimated movements of the fleeing civies, and the unidentified target. Im pretty confident the unidentified ship (regardless of enemy or ally) will move NW to either group and evac (if friendly) or to chase after.

The Heavy pink was the orignal TF2 fighter move path (its a bit hard, i didnt find the right color wheel for the legend)

But basically for the TF 2 fighter pathing, I think we want to be in a different spot than TF 2 fighters so maximize coverage of the main fleets and increase chances that one of the fighter groups will engage and neutralize enemy fighters.

[jolly verge]

coz if i understand their (TF3) intentions correctly and im pretty sure i am, their fighters have to end at the top of the map to jump out of the thing next turn

[plain dew]

I have TF 2 fighters screening closer to the tail end of TF3/storm on the odd chance the enemy fighters chase deep into our lines, and then our fighter group moves outwards to intercept/cover the unknowns (if they push into us), and then our position ends basically ontop of TF2, which will allow quick repairs (if needed)

aw balls i put TF3 twice

Green should be TF2

[jolly verge]

i recommend u to use the codenames, because of the issue with 2/3

[plain dew]

im not smart enough to do that in paint 😂 once its in its in forever.

alright.. i patched it

[jolly verge]

i fixed it the same time

but yours looks better :D

[plain dew]

i yoinked another part of the picture and put it over the text, then rewrote the text lol

[marsh osprey]

So is the plan now to no longer go evasive?

[plain dew]

Oh we are still in evasion for sure.

but its tagging as many hexes as we can to soak fire for potential enemy movements.

[marsh osprey]

I thought evasive cost movement, sorry.

[plain dew]

I think the rule is you have to move a minimum of half your speed.

[marsh osprey]

I just reread it has to end more than half its movement distance away from where it began.

So for fighters we would have to end 3.5 or more away from where we began.

[plain dew]

The other interesting thing to consider, is fighters move roughly 2-3 spaces in the same time an orbital moves, so with this movement pattern we should arrive exactly when that BC arrive in its NW projected route, and also arrive and head off the unknown/potential 2nd bot ship assuming it chases towards TF3.

[plain dew]

And yeah, this should have us ending roughly 3.5 away

I think our (fighters) main objective is clean up or damage as many enemy fighters as possible and then (hopefully) eat a few shots from the BC/Bot 2 ships so that TF1 is in a good spot to wipe out all remaining enemies when they deploy in.

[craggy dragon]

Okay so this is my first mission task. I know I am in Endurance. As an engineer what is the best thing for me to man there?

[sage perch]

reloading probably

[solid hare]

This is gonna get crazy!

[olive cliff]

I don't think it makes a difference this round but would it be better to be on the flight deck ready to repair/rearm or in the medical bay ready to heal? I'm on Rapid Sentinel

[topaz rivet]

Flight deck. No one is taking med bay relevant damage yet

[lyric berry]

I'm planning to man the HMG (I see I'm already slotted in there), do I have someone to reload for me?

[ember python]

it looks like DrœsT1 (the other mech jockey) has gone in to reload for ya

unless i'm mistaken there is nothing uncrewed on Endurance presently?

[turbid kernel]

Technically some one could man the Mech bay but obviously that's a bit pointless currently

[ember python]

Alright, I'm on standby then. let's carry that weight.

there isn't a point to manning Damage Control until there is damage, right? if i'm reading it correctly?

[atomic comet]

Not until we're damaged

It sounds like you can only fix damage the turn after it occurred

[ember python]

yeah, that makes sense. ok, just thought i'd make sure.

[lyric berry]

I am feeling incredibly trepidations about getting left to solo the gate. I suppose that's our job, though. Did anyone play Goldeneye 64? Remember the mission where you have to escort Natalia? This feels like that to me.

Okay, I'm going back to shutting up and following orders, LOL

[noble owl]

Don’t let the commissars hear that😝

[turbid kernel]

I think the nerves are natural but it really is only for this turn that we'll be alone for a bit. Victorum is literally right behind us with 7 cannons and 4 autocannons, and 2 sets of Long Range Missiles looking for targets. 9 fighters and 6 bombers looking for a fight. And 2 mechs that will walk on the skin of the ship to also join the fight lol.

[lyric berry]

Okay, that helps. I knew we were getting reinforcements, but didn't know the breakdown

[jolly verge]

basically our main space battle force is right behind us

[turbid kernel]

https://tenor.com/view/tf2-heavy-meet-the-heavy-bullet-outsmart-bullet-gif-20206045

[shadow sigil]

uuuh, we don't have LRMs.
But the rest sounds about right

[turbid kernel]

Apologies, saw 2 LMs under turret on Exodia. thought it was a misspell. those are the mechs I assume just under the turreted slot for weapon facing?

[solid hare]

https://tenor.com/view/warhammer-40k-handshake-meme-my-man-warhammer-gif-1789335409913780266

[shadow sigil]

Yes

[ember python]

it really is only one turn, you're right. that exact logic applies to the folks leaving us to take the hit alone imo. but that ship has literally sailed. so we have to make the best of it.

[turbid kernel]

I'm assuming you're good if I slot you in to the heavy drop pod for assignment?

[maiden belfry]

how many scanners does fluffle have I wonder, maybe we need to scan the ships multiple times?

debating whetever to scan 4417 near fairle so we know what all the ? are or double dip with fluffle and scan the ship

[ember python]

Hopefully, nothing stops them on their path to Elim. If they don't get stopped, its worth the risk. if they do get stopped, then it'll have not been worth it. but thats the gamble, hopefully it plays out ARMCO's way.

[turbid kernel]

They have 2 scanners

[maiden belfry]

thanks was also looking that up

[turbid kernel]

Yeah, we have the civilians in front of us but Elim is also under siege still and the more we delay either way the worse it gets for them,

[maiden belfry]

I think ill wait and see if they put in orders where they are scanning and compliment that, how very fun

[solid hare]

I'm down for it, though I don't think I'm on the picketline anymore... or does that not mattee?

[turbid kernel]

that doesn't matter the heavy pods are on the banksia with you lol

[ember python]

yeah, if nothing stops them, it'll be great. but if there are unknown enemies lurking in between they'll get stopped again.

[solid hare]

Good point, I mean I want to a breech pod, just in case

[plain dew]

Also keep in mind, theres civilians at the mine planet side and those cities.

[turbid kernel]

That's absolutely fair

[jolly verge]

I mean if they havent declared their intention yet you can declare yours first. Two things to keep in mind: 1, they dont know whats ahead of them and if they need their scanner there. 2, if we want to Comms Intercept the enemy Battlecruiser it needs to be scanned this turn if i understood correctly

[sage perch]

Still waiting on the Captain to return before I submit my orders

[solid hare]

Honestly it's gonna be interesting once we hit planetside, PAIs and ODTs dropping right on the bots heads. Both raining men and steel... huh, if a drop pod lands on a bot squad does that could as a projectile attack?

Lol

[plain dew]

@pliant fjord i case you dont wanna scroll thru everything. This was what i came up with for an alternative flight path. LMK what you think.

[solid hare]

Awww missed the poll but we still got what I would be fine with, lets claim that Battlecruiser!

[astral depot]

damn thats a lot of arrows

[pliant fjord]

That looks good to me. Good coverage of the area, with a good chance to hit a couple fighters

I am back, hello!

[ember python]

ok, just to confirm, i'm not needed to crew anything this round?

[pliant fjord]

not desperately, there are open slots, but no anticipated repair actions to be done or anything

You could take the Mech bay, and say you're fine-tuning the mechs

[ember python]

Sounds good to me.

[pliant fjord]

@lyric berry FYI, the ship's name is Endurance, not Endeavor, but I figured it out, no need to resubmit

[lyric berry]

Sorry about that, slightly embarrassing

[pliant fjord]

all good, I had to look up Banksia like ten times

[ember python]

i feel like i would've been doing the same thing in your shoes, just like "wait... we have an Endeavor?"
Just desperately looking through the google sheet even though i've been staring at it for the last 4 or 5 days

[pliant fjord]

Like, WHO DIDN'T TELL ME WE GOT A 7th SHIP lol /s

[ember python]

They NEED to tell you, you're the TACCOM!

[pliant fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/hot-fuzz-nobody-gif-5583812

Might legit be my favorite movie

[strange wigeon]

I feel this on a deeply personal level for someone in a job that should know things

[ember python]

as an aside, i really enjoy reading everyone's little RP blurbs

[pliant fjord]

One genius Facing joke.

Location: Rapid Sentinel
Facing: A stark reminder of our own fragile mortality

legit laughed out loud at that one

[topaz rivet]

Can you make the polls last longer?

[pliant fjord]

The choices were 8 hours or 24 hours, and 24 would make it last past the deadline

or did you mean stay on the front page longer?

[topaz rivet]

No, 24h is what I meant

[pliant fjord]

The pinned comment will always have a link to any active polls

I guess that one only affects the following turn, so yea, I'll lengthen it if I can. (I could not.) 😦

[plain dew]

@untold tusk @marsh osprey @vague shuttle @polar kiln

Do you all agree to the plan & the flight plan? Basically: we group together in a V formation, all of us are in the Evasion order, and we try to soak fire/deal some damage back to the bot fighters while staying as safe as we can. We will end close to the orbitals for a quick repair/rearm if needed the following round.

[royal sequoia]

And good morning Atlas

[pliant fjord]

Morning Epsilon!

(Euroshift)

[royal sequoia]

I don't think you should tell them to join us though

they'd be safer behind you

I'm expecting the bots to chase us, at least for this turn

so the civies ducking to the left while this happen, and then getting behind you would be optimal imo

[pliant fjord]

We're counting on that for sure, so yea, I'll edit that.
Nobody over there is broadcasting that TF1 is coming right?

[royal sequoia]

nope

I ain't broadcasting that you guys are coming

[plain dew]

Yea, tahts why the fighters are doing a weird S hook, its to meet up with the civies and then loop back around to head off any additional contacts coming from those unknowns (or if those are more civies, hopefully helping to protect them).

[pliant fjord]

Lets try this again without my typos and some minor edits.

[pliant fjord]

Looks like a perfectly normal seek-and-destroy pattern over the course of an [unspecified unit of time]

[warm elbow]

“Specify operational priority: initiate comms interception protocols first, or prepare damage control systems? Awaiting directive for C Null unit”

[pliant fjord]

"Damage control systems irrelevant. no ship has taken damage. Com-Int is priority. Success of Com-Int will ensure Victorum a perfect engagement."

"And they said a Draconian could never learn Binary..." (Python?)

[warm elbow]

“Comms station manned and calibrated. Standing by—awaiting secondary crew to initiate scan protocol for full order compliance.”

[pliant fjord]

That'll most likely be Fluffle, but if not, we'll make sure someone over here does.

[warm elbow]

Compliance

[pliant fjord]

"Compliance Confirmed. Download and run: reward.exe"

Most of the crew seems to prefer Ice-cream, I'm guessing yours is more literal?

[warm elbow]

C Null would like to express g̴̉́r̴̅̏ä̷́̄t̶̅̚i̸͋́ṱ̸̓ȗ̵͋d̸̾͝ě̷͂to your avid responce in a t̸̄͌o̷͆̽n̷͗̾ȅ̷̚ similar to our own

Text to speech implants glitching rewriting matrix.

[pliant fjord]

"Gratitude received and appreciated."
I guess the real reward was the friendships we made along the way XD

[pliant fjord]

Maybe some robot friends can bridge the gap with these bots one day.

But not today. Today we minimize casualties with maximum firepower.

Good night Atlas Alpha (Americas)

Good morning Atlas Epsilon (Europe)

Orders are due <t:1750888800:R>. As of my last check, we're at 50% in!

As always, check the doc front page and the top pinned comment to catch yourself up. I'm off for the night.

[ember python]

"Hey, anyone else's comms on the fritz? Everytime this C Null Actual guy tries to talk on general comms all I'm getting is white noise. Is this on my end?"

[abstract thunder]

Brother you aren’t the one with them on your ship (jk ily Kirby)

[abstract thunder]

Where is the Atlas Oceanic?

[pliant fjord]

-# Omega Shift

[light crescent]

*"Are your comms on "vocal optimisation"? That doesn't seem to recognise C Null as speech. Try "ballanced" maybe?

Everyone: check your comms NOW! Reception will be even worse once we are thru the gate!"*

[jagged pagoda]

"Aye, sir"
Responds the Starborn Engineers on a pristine, sounding comms channel

[jolly verge]

"Group Fairlie to Admiral Union can you hear me, test one two, test one two?"

"Scan system fully operational, Fairlie ready for Alt-Space exit!"

[royal sequoia]

'Here is Captain Simm, aboard the TripleS, Taskforce Fluffle. You guys are on global broadcast, repeat, global broadcast. Is this intended? While I like hearing about scanners, that doesn't seem relevant to my immediate problems. Over.'

[sage perch]

"This is Captain Jack of the Pearl, Do I need to hear this either, I need to figure out where I am going to be to both shoot this guy and get out of the sector in time

[light crescent]

"Pearl this is Union, don't worry, you are faster than the Battlecruisers, you can catch up easily."

"Positiv, I hear you all loud and clear! Remember, our Channel is 1.02!"

[jolly verge]

"Yeah, Junior Engineer Berolina turned the comms transmission switch to all, instead of vehicle. Im sorry, its his first mission in Space"

[light crescent]

"Good thing we are making these mistakes now and not when fighting"

[twin cypress]

Help guys

I am hella confused

[turbid kernel]

'bout?

[twin cypress]

What to do now

And how I start

If im on a ship or hovering/standing next to the rest

Or if im doing anything at all

[turbid kernel]

Unfortunately not too much to do. We're just body blocking for the civilians and using the fighters and the Pearl to do some damage but we're mainly just distracting the enemy BC until TF1 Victorum shows up next turn then continuing the original plan. You may just want to do a hold order and say your in the VTOL bay.

[twin cypress]

Okay

Done

[sage perch]

@pliant fjord Would you be good with me submitting my orders a couple hours late

[jolly verge]

you might want to specify on wich vesser your vtol is, but i dont know if its completely necessery

[twin cypress]

The main one, idk

[jolly verge]

i think you are on the picketline

[pliant fjord]

Should be ok, I'll be finishing up my map Thursday morning, so if yours bleeds over a bit, I'll live.

[sage perch]

I can actually get it in now

[pliant fjord]

This is not global broadcast, this is Taskforce 2 Actual, and scanner coordination is critical to success. For global broadcast switch to Meta-Comm 1.

[royal sequoia]

Speaking of which, I think our only guy scanning is also scanning what your guy wants to scan

But it might make more sense for us to do it, given that we're starting in range of it

[pliant fjord]

We can hit it twice. We'll get our second scanner on the BC then.

[royal sequoia]

Alright

I was wondering if we wanted to scan an enemy fighter harder

Any additional info could be great

[pliant fjord]

Up to you then, our first scanner already submitted

And com-int is already submitted too, on the BC. So someone needs to scan that thing again.

[royal sequoia]

Alrighty

[pliant fjord]

Yup, second scanner has targeted BC, you're free to target whoever you want

[high pike]

Supply iconography you can use

[pliant fjord]

Doing great Atlas! If you have buddies here who haven't submitted, begin the bugging process!

Also, here are the strategic maps we have access to. Note that Elim city is still outdated until Storm lands.

It appears like we'll be able to deploy to anywhere in the city as long as we're in the shaded area.

Timing is still completely unknowable, but I think we can get there next turn if we're lucky

Orders are due in <t:1750888860:R>.

Ten players have not yet submitted orders, most importantly, 2/5 of our fighters.

Aloha, TheFerd, Rainer, Finest, Alloy, Noble, SkyWolf, Eureka, @untold tusk , @polar kiln .

Even if your order is "standing by in a bay" that still needs to be submitted for the record.

If you're just coming in, and not sure what kind of order to submit, look at the orders channel for some good examples.

[topaz rivet]

Or ask in here

[sage perch]

@rapid sail Please shoot at the BC

[plain dew]

Also for those fighters, if you have a time crunch just copy and paste my order. You would only need to update your call sign info.

[jagged pagoda]

@stuck mountain submit your order pls

[rapid sail]

Aye, sir, consider it done.

[stuck mountain]

Any requests?

[pliant fjord]

There are VTOL bays to crew up, but nothing damaged

Stout beat you to the Scanner this time

[jagged pagoda]

If the ship you're on has a gun, you could reload it...?

[pliant fjord]

Check out the "Deployment Logistics" tab for available crew slots

get outta here, that was a legitimate question

[humble urchin]

pingpingping

Sure.

Now how and why that game came to be...

Iron Hammer.

Link it to Iron Hammer, somehow 🤣

[jagged pagoda]

I was gonna suggest some very bored engineers XD

[humble urchin]

I'm free on how you explain it has how it came out, but non-rp wise, I came up with ARMCOmon, then @slate palm came up with "hey what about gambling", then @jagged mulch dev-ed it out in python, then @proven tinsel is now working to improve it with Vivian.

YES, YOU ALL GET PINGS.

GET CREDITED FOR THE GAMBLING IDIOT

[humble urchin]

https://tenor.com/view/foxplushy-foxy-fox-vtuber-vtuber-fox-girl-gif-26697777

[slate palm]

I REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITYYYYYY

[pliant fjord]

Leave this channel, we have crew asking questions

[humble urchin]

YOU'LL HAVE TO, WHERE'S THE MONEY FOR THE KIDS ?!?

[ember python]

So if you guys are technically running a casino out of ATLAS cargo bays, we should definitely be charging you rent.

[humble urchin]

Ay, I was pinged to answer, answer I did

[pliant fjord]

You could crew up a VTOL bay, or sit idle, not much else to do, just need to know you're still here

[humble urchin]

Nooooo.... we're not.............

[slate palm]

IN THE BASEMENT OF THE HOUSE YOU STOLE FROM ME

[slate palm]

But can we evade ARMCO taxes tho?

[stuck mountain]

Looks like most doing that, I'm on endurance

[pliant fjord]

===I'm instituting a temporary No-Nonsense Directive. For the next 4 hours, this channel is for legitimate player questions about order submission only. Go to Meta-Comm if you want to RP.===

[humble urchin]

Don't hesitate to ping thoses who haven't submitted their order yet if it hasn't already been done

[stuck mountain]

Done, hopefully all good?

[pliant fjord]

yea, that's all we need right now! You'll get a ✅ if it's good, otherwise we'll ping you and ask you to fix

@vivid crater@meager raven @topaz rivet @merry summit @tiny whale I'm still missing your orders, assuming you're docked if you're a HAT, but the order has to exist for the game record.

[tiny whale]

Sorry been busy with work - I’ll get that fixed up. :D

[topaz rivet]

#1385616625293725886 message ?

[pliant fjord]

missed that one, ty

[tiny whale]

Is there anything that really needs attending to? I’m looking but seems all bases are covered and nothing else to be done so I’d just be holding in the Picket Line - just wanted to check with y’all

[pliant fjord]

Yup, that's fine, just need the order submitted for the game record

There are some VTOL bays uncrewed, but nothing to repair yet

[jolly verge]

I have tried to update our Map with the Orders I found (Mainly the the movement of Union(assuming the rest will follow the picketline) and the Black Pearl, I have also updated the Scanning intention of Stout 1)

There are still 3 Smaller ? on the map, but this will be Victorums Mission

[pliant fjord]

Was gonna wait for final orders to post, but yea, this is what I've got so far!

[jolly verge]

look at UNIONS order, they wrote, Movement to 4217

[pliant fjord]

Because of the size of the formation, Mini's final location should be about there, yea. He's leading the formation from the back

[vestal ice]

My RP is waking up from a hangover from a poker game the night before

[jolly verge]

I assumed everyone moving in Formation will end up in the same hex, so mb

[pliant fjord]

It's pretty loose, the hexes are kinda just a guide for measurement.

We're also not 100% sure where our movement starts from the gate, so I'm erring on the side of "better to over-estimate our distance and be corrected than to under-estimate it."

[jolly verge]

and i also tried to keep the scan colours in the colours of the vehicles the systems are in

[pliant fjord]

ah good idea I'll fix that

[pliant fjord]

@plain dew Small problem, came from my misunderstanding of Evasive.

The end point must be 3.5 range away from the start point. Not just a minimum move requirement.
It's apparently been modified in the rulebook to be more clear.

There was a suggestion to end in 4316 instead of 4317, which can add a little more zig-zag coverage.

Alternate fighter flight plan

[plain dew]

We dont have to use all 7 of our movement right?

[granite otter]

no

[pliant fjord]

just gotta end at least 3.5 away from start

[plain dew]

I think timing wise, its better to just use the 6 movement and keep to the original path. By my estimation math it should put our fighter group right at the main points of conflict to soak up shots.

[topaz rivet]

And maybe shoot bad guys?

[plain dew]

by our 5th move we need to be at 4215 to intercept the (possible) enemy ship that could be chasing the civies, and would be within range 1 to shoot them.

the 4th move dipping into 4116 would be to cover the light freighters and pick up any other enemy fighters chasing after them.

[plain dew]

psssh thats the plan starting with the first move 😉

its okay, watch the bots pull back and not engage us, and will be doing silly loops for nothing 😂

[pliant fjord]

if you wanna resubmit, Reaper, that'd be helpful, I'll remake the map rq for you

[plain dew]

Do the others need to resubmit too?

i think they are just sticking in formation

[pliant fjord]

nop, that's the very nice benefit of formations

[marsh osprey]

I was just about to ask if I need to resubmit.

[plain dew]

ill put that in shortly

[pliant fjord]

bless thanks

[plain dew]

i almost left the old ending hex in

boy that would have been awkward

🤣

[turbid kernel]

We're still missing some people yeah?

[pliant fjord]

Two fighters and one Crew, yea

they've all been pinged

[jolly verge]

should we ping them again?

[pliant fjord]

no, one is in "Do not disturb" the other two are "offline"

if they didn't respond the first time, they won't the second either

I PMd the two fighters

[jolly verge]

I mean if the 2 figthers are not doing anything it could be much more dangerous for our other 3, isnt it?

[pliant fjord]

yes

[jolly verge]

and we arent allowed to just assume they are in wing with the other ones correct?

[pliant fjord]

not if they don't submit orders. we can go dig through the messages to see if they verbally agreed to something

and take a screenshot, and I'll save it as a record

They can also ask for an extension, I'll be around after the deadline. This time anyway.

[shadow sigil]

You can't do that

If they don't submit an order they don't do anything

[pliant fjord]

yea, assumed as such

[pliant fjord]

Alright Hades/Finest. You're all that's left.

[plain dew]

Hades mentioned he will submit a bit farther up i think

[solid hare]

So... are we taking a ship battlecruiser for our own or blowing it up?

[plain dew]

jokes, it was someone else.

[topaz rivet]

Blowing it up. TF1 might get annoyed if our marines get in the way of their big guns

[plain dew]

we are up to 4/5 fighters now i believe btw.

[jolly verge]

my theorie is that this BC might be the BC that intel told us is above Elim, but well see if there is anything intercepting us/Fluffle further down the line

[topaz rivet]

Intel said there was a frigate about Elim

[pliant fjord]

yea, last we checked, there's still a frigate at Elim. If Storm doesn't blow it up before we get there, we should 100% try to board it

[jolly verge]

oh, then i misremembered, well also see soon what the other large ? is.

[pliant fjord]

@vivid crater @polar kiln
Your orders are due in 45 minutes. If you do not submit orders, your unit will do nothing.

For everyone else,

There are some preliminary plans for next round(s) in the "Operations (planned) tab

[humble urchin]

#1385616625293725886 message @plain dew "Imperium of man", I salute the WH40K roleplay

[jolly verge]

the plans for operation look good

I can say its quiet difficult to draw something with an injured hand, but i made an emblem for Fairlie today
and I didnt send the correct version :)

[twin widget]

Regarding your planned operations, Shack dropped a few new maps.

[pliant fjord]

yeah, those are the ones I used

[jolly verge]

Good Night Atlas Epsilon, Good Mornign Atlas Omega, Hope you have a good shift

[pliant fjord]

Current Submission. I'll have some time to fix this in the morning tomorrow if absolutely necessary.

FTR squadron reduced to 4 due to absence. Hades is assumed to be landed at Pioneer FD.

[ember python]

Something wrong with the launch catapult on Flight Deck Charlie, i guess.

Slight delay

[high pike]

I really enjoy this

Atlas shifts Omega (though should it be Omicron? 🤔 ), Epsilon, and Alpha, right?

[sage perch]

All but one is pretty good for our first round

[pliant fjord]

My intention was Greek letters. Is it not Alpha, Epsilon, and Omega?

[high pike]

Omicron and Omega can both be transliterated as "O", yes
Ditto for Eta and Epsilon to "E"

[pliant fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/futurama-valentines-day-painting-lrrr-omicron-persei8-gif-22663184

[pliant fjord]

In any case, its for "Americas" "Europe" and "Oceana" "Oceania"

We got a wide spread

[high pike]

Mhm. I figured that's what the letters stood for

[signal stream]

I can't believe Oceania was forgotten again, instead Oceana was included (No idea who they are)

[pliant fjord]

Whoops. Too many planets to keep track of I guess. (1).

My apologies to the planet of large scary things and also koalas.

[ember python]

Does this mean our drop marines are dropbears?

[topaz rivet]

My marines have nothing in common with drop bears

[strange wigeon]

https://tenor.com/view/bear-falling-nequeporo-gif-23795061

[craggy dragon]

Good job getting work done every one 😀

[pliant fjord]

95% orders submitted, I am happy!

[abstract thunder]

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1328705321560182857/1387636975934111784/attachment.gif?ex=685e1124&is=685cbfa4&hm=87ea2cf59beef4b6ada8a6a1e5e2b7211e27b21227d104a691eb5f93206b4b7b&

[pliant fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/koala-bear-tummy-rubs-peacful-aussie-australia-gif-18348061

-# PSA, wash your hands if you touch a Koala, 99% of them are horribly infected with Chlamydia.

[abstract thunder]

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1328705321560182857/1331115946378788895/attachment.gif

[topaz rivet]

My marines all have a clean bill of health. Unlike koalas.

[pliant fjord]

My Power Armor periodically bathes me in a sanitizing gel.

I think the brand is... Purel?

[jagged pagoda]

Morning

[pliant fjord]

Morning Epsilon!

We had two units miss their orders (though I can edit for a bit tomorrow morning if they get them in soon)

The preliminary version of our orders have been put in the TacCom page, and onto the doc

And a couple plans have been entered into the Operations Tab

I'm off to bed, have a good one!

https://tenor.com/view/iguana-bored-gif-9251764

[jolly verge]

Good Night Alpha, Good Morning Epsilon

[plain dew]

the calm before the storm

[high pike]

-# Storm VTOLs would like to know your location...

[topaz rivet]

Are they trying to reach us about our extended warranty?

[tired patio]

Exciting times

[topaz rivet]

It’s never good when the GM says that

[solid hare]

I don't know, feels like something unexpected is happening and things are about to get interesting

[topaz rivet]

Things going according to our plans: boring, expected
Things going wrong: exciting, interesting

[jolly verge]

all of our characters die: fun, engaging....

[topaz rivet]

Exactly

[pliant fjord]

Unexpected but good things happening: so demure, so mindful.

[royal sequoia]

I mean, we're all sitting on the edge of our seats, waiting for tomorrow to happen

[pliant fjord]

Morning Alpha.

[topaz rivet]

We’re just waiting on TF3’s map?

[royal sequoia]

It's confusing, Alpha is also the short for the marines I have onboard

The map submition ends tonight I think

so tomorrow should be results?

well it's all displaced since timezones exist

[pliant fjord]

They won't need one this turn. Maybe just a formation

[royal sequoia]

erhm

[pliant fjord]

Tf1***

[royal sequoia]

yes we will :p our fighters are also launching in combat

[pliant fjord]

Oh my goodness. That's what I get for engaging as soon as I wake up

[tired patio]

Check in #campaign-information

[craggy dragon]

Hey, so I am going to be in the middle of the woods this weekend. So posting my actions will be tough. Anyone have an idea of what I should do so I could maybe get it done earlier than later?

[tired patio]

it has all the times using Hammer time which auto-sets itself to your timezone.

[pliant fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/lizard-gif-22075136

[tired patio]

Endurance of course will continue to fly in fleet formation going with the groups plan for this round.

Which sounded like we're heading north and our fighter we're getting in on the action to help the civilians?

[jolly verge]

Good Night Omega Good Morning (2nd Part of) Alpha

[pliant fjord]

All fighters but one. Hasn't checked in yet.

Must be asleep in the cockpit, can't launch.

[tired patio]

Fair enough. It happens. Feel free to give them a ping. But lets not go over board.

[royal sequoia]

I'm hoping Atlas fighters come in before Fluffle fighters have to disengage, to provide continuous cover for the civilians.

[pliant fjord]

Have done so

[topaz rivet]

Last I heard Fuffle’s fighters were sweeping back before meeting up at the transit point.

[royal sequoia]

yeah exactly

[jagged pagoda]

Interesting developments await us

[royal sequoia]

I'm very happy about both Atlas and Fluffle existing. I think we'll work together very well

[jagged pagoda]

Hopefully everyone will work together well XD

[turbid kernel]

You'll have to work with Ixen to see if he may be willing to allow an earlier submission. But I would imagine you just make up an order of holding on the ship for now.

[pliant fjord]

yes, that's fine with me. We're unlikely to deploy to the surface next turn (it'll take us a turn to get there still). So if you want to PM me some orders to do Damage Control or continue to 'dig in' aboard the Endurance, that's fine, I'll forward it to the orders channel when the time comes.

[craggy dragon]

Thanks! I just wanted to be sure I get stuff in. 🙂 thank you. I will pm you later are I sleep some.

[vivid crater]

Sorry, didn't think there was anything to do on Pioneer since none of the fighters needed to be repaired

[pliant fjord]

Gotcha, common misunderstanding

You do still need to submit orders, just for game records

even if those orders are "I Hold aboard the Picket Line "

You're not too late, I was just touching them up now and can/will resubmit if you want

@vivid crater thanks for checking in!

[vivid crater]

👍🏻

[pliant fjord]

got any questions about how to format, where to post, etc?

[vivid crater]

All good on that, ty

[turbid kernel]

Well, first dive into action. Let's see what Atlas can take. And dish out.

[royal sequoia]

I hope Atlas can dish out soupply

anything else is bonus :p

[pliant fjord]

Soupply is a dish best served cold

[pliant fjord]

Also, meet Iron Hammer, our gambling addicts who've been playing ARMCOmon in the cargo bays

[solid hare]

Armcomon? Gotta catch all the unit types?

[pliant fjord]

apparently. They coded a whole python script and everything

with loot boxes

[solid hare]

Oooo nice, i've been trying to get into things like game development.

[pliant fjord]

Head on over to https://discord.com/channels/222052888531173386/1383066706724913293, I'm sure they'd love to talk about it

[jagged pagoda]

I've seen it, it's very extensive XD

[jagged mulch]

Mine is only 200 lines of code

Derg's is a lot longer, his is 600 lines

[jagged pagoda]

Wait there's another one? XD

Oh boy

[pliant fjord]

Operation Deuce

-# for when shit hits the fan

Atlas Deployment of Iron Hammer without access to a Spaceport.

[topaz rivet]

I see atlas and iron hammer mixed in? Can we get all iron hammer if it’s just them?

[jolly verge]

and how many turns does it need can we then get it to 1?

Just to say it loud, great work Ixen, thank you for your effort ❤️

[pliant fjord]

@ noble The gateway is vehicles for sure. Worst case scenario, there's no Airfield either, so the only way to get the Vehicles down is with HVTOLs

They've got one of their own, and we can borrow two from STORM while they're in the area, but it'll go faster if we can take the port ASAP

Of course, best case is the port's open, then deployment looks like this:

Which is MUCH MUCH easier lol

[topaz rivet]

We could do it at one point but they added many units since them

[strange wigeon]

Totally didnt see this as PKLN ramming the spaceport

[pliant fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/tunnel-train-gif-13951884

[jolly verge]

ARSE approves this way of creating a tunnel only at emergencies (but this is *probably * one)

[ember python]

Storm is going to descend and unload next round, probably, yeah? Assuming they dont get interdicted on route or anything else halts them for some reason?

[pliant fjord]

Yea, hopefully their infantry can keep the starport open

we'll know more tomorrow

[topaz rivet]

Hopefully they’ll sweep the city clean of opposition. The plan had been for ground troops to be able to play next week

[ember python]

Yeah, i have my doubts that we'll just be walking into the starport and flipping the switch all at once. But, regardless, I can imagine some cases where it may be advantageous for us to drop too, even though we'd be dropping in the west. Like, for instance, a cluster of anti-air near the transition line, or some such. They are edge cases, so itll be entirely dependent on what we learn. Just sharing where my mind is at.

[humble urchin]

I'm hoping not to have to plan for operation "shit hit the fan"

...even if you guys did, it seems like a headache to coordinate everyone into "who goes where" 😅

[strange wigeon]

Operation Shit Creek. Bring your own paddle.

[humble urchin]

Okay, I'm keeping that name. 🤣

[strange wigeon]

So good

[pliant fjord]

It sure was! But I love spreadsheets more than I love sleep.

[pliant fjord]

yea, exactly, we can get more specific about who and where when we get the real map

[pliant fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/hype-gif-25972342

[plain dew]

https://tenor.com/view/sweats-gif-25346666

[topaz rivet]

[expletive deleted]

[pliant fjord]

well, we'll get some good use out of our Dam-Con modules

[topaz rivet]

I hope we’re feeding targeting data back to TF1

[pliant fjord]

Comm-Int baby!

we should get that BC's pathing

[strange wigeon]

[jolly verge]

oh shit baby?! What is this thing and? Its so heavily armed....

[topaz rivet]

Hopefully it’s just a target

[jolly verge]

FAIRLIE TO ATLAS, THE OTHER UNIDENTIFIED LARGE OBJECT IS FRIGATE WEIGHT CLASS WITH TWO MAIN BATTLE CANNONS, TAKE CARE! Fairlie out

[halcyon ridge]

Well not to get too greedy but this might give us an opportunity to use those breach pods after all

[solid hare]

Don't tempt us, we've got some angy boyz waiting for a reason to board an enemy vessel!!

[rapid sail]

Semper Send It!

[solid hare]

https://tenor.com/view/raid-gif-23619575

[jolly verge]

So whats our call, do we stay, board and help Victorum or do we continue and let them fight it out? We had a decision to continue but this situation is something else now

[solid hare]

Poll?

[vestal ice]

un-scans area

[opaque pagoda]

Oh poop

[solid hare]

I'm down to taking a ship and then heading for the planet, but it would delay out deployment a bit

[strange wigeon]

Listen, its not what those cannons can do to us, its what we can do with those cannons.

Raise the flag, Yakove

[turbid kernel]

I think we keep our original plan. Victorum is better equipped to handle both and trying to board them would be getting in the way

[topaz rivet]

I’m pretty sure we’re not allowed to keep ships we board. Shack does not want to encourage loot goblining

[solid hare]

https://tenor.com/view/topsecret-cannon-cafeole-blackman-black-gif-19410325

[opaque pagoda]

I agree!

[rapid sail]

I'm a forward facing gunner on a Space Pearl with an Autocannon, I shoot at whoever the Cap'n points me at

[pliant fjord]

At least 2 rounds, most like

[solid hare]

Yea... good point

[pliant fjord]

Best time to do it is during the City Seige, when the TF is stationary for multiple rounds. There's still a frigate there supposedly.

[halcyon ridge]

If Captain “You keep what you kill” Shack didn’t want us to have it, he wouldn’t have put it in breaching range. And yes I’m aware that this is a lot of big talk from an unarmed corvette

[pliant fjord]

Oh, Cpt. Stalk. Are you ok going into Low Orbit for Operation Deuce? We'd have the FTRs escort you, and Storm's VTOLs would have much quicker access to the bays.

[halcyon ridge]

The plan is to get as close as reasonably possible. Storm will have full access to the bays for transporting injured to and from med bay. I’ll need to look at the doc to get a more exact idea but being in mobile currently doesn’t lend itself to that

[vague shuttle]

Only if

[pliant fjord]

There's a whole bunch of pictures in the Operations Planning tab of the doc.

[turbid kernel]

So... Who do we think is getting shot first?

[strange wigeon]

Civilian freighters

[solid hare]

So... what I'm hearing is operation DIBS may very well be ago on the frigate over the city?

[turbid kernel]

Assuming Storm and Fluffle don't kill it. Yes, we be boarding her

[solid hare]

https://tenor.com/view/ballistic-freaks-raid-raid-time-ballistic-freaks-gif-25017156

[topaz rivet]

My marines will be volunteering to board and/or deploy dirtside. Seems like Pioneer is not a fun place to be during a battle. If they’re going to be risking certain death, they prefer to be able to shoot back

[wintry pawn]

I want to get in there and secure the space port.

[turbid kernel]

They'll be plenty of action for everyone, once we make it to Elim. We don't know what the bots have in response range once we make it to the city

[pallid sequoia]

From the Campaign Briefing (emphasis mine):

I’ve received some data-mined bits of intel about these machines. They operate as individual units. Under a standard general order. They.. collect the population of a planet. We don’t know what this means exactly But it can’t be good.

If there's a frigate parked above a city, what we know about the clankers' behavior suggests it may be full of captive civilians. I'm sure Fluffle and Storm will scan before unloading on it, but we may want to check in with them.

[wintry pawn]

Best bet might be to shoot out it's engines.

[royal sequoia]

I'm fairly certain that frigate was sending drop troops to attack the city

and since it seems not that much time passed between reports, it's probably just an advanced raid for now, more to sow chaos or try to control the spaceport early, and not already mass scale captures

also, holy moly is that two main battle canons? x)

boy am I glad fluffle high tailed it out of here

[turbid kernel]

That was their last confirmed action but it'll definitely be a good idea to scan it again and keep an eye out for transports between it and the city. And yeah, made the right call to leave. Hoping it doesn't mess us up too badly.

[pliant fjord]

Good point. All the more reason to board.

[ember python]

coming back to Atlas comms to gloat about leaving us to face all this alone? jkjk

I think we can tank this if our formation stays firm, and we man the damage control teams next turn.

[pliant fjord]

Yea, unless both ships decide to focus fire a Light Freighter for some reason, we won't lose any ships.

[jolly verge]

Is there a possibility to rescue people out of the wreck if one of our ships got destroyed?

[plain dew]

or pick up life boats/pods

great idea

something the VTOLs could do ?

[ember python]

good question

[pliant fjord]

Unknown what happens. Not in the rulebook.
I am tragically assuming that if an orbital is destroyed, all onboard crew are KIA.

[topaz rivet]

If it’s one of ours, everyone dies. Dead is dead.

[ember python]

the civs though? maybe some of the Otters from Second Wind are floating out there in pods?

[pliant fjord]

ask in meta-comm

[halcyon ridge]

Got a better chance to check it out. I’m fully on board with the plan. Any fighter escort is appreciated and I’ll check in with crew to get their thoughts on it but anticipate them being for it

[solid hare]

https://tenor.com/view/boat-dont-touch-the-boat-dont-touch-the-butt-touch-the-boat-touch-the-butt-gif-5232641

[plain dew]

This turn will be very telling from a gameplay perspective on what priority the Bots targeting systems use. Which can give us an idea for how to strategize in future rounds.

One of the reasons i selected the flight path for the fighters was to have a single group of units pass through/engage multiple enemy units with different ship speeds, and therefore different conditions. I am hoping from the results of the round to get some answers to the following questions:

Will a bot ship/fighter shoot the first thing in range? (if that is the case, most likely we will see the frigate & BC blow away the civies, as well as the fighters there, as they would have targets before any movement for the turn is completed)

If not, how do the prioritize? Do they shoot the highest value target during thier entire flight path duration? The least defensive/evasive? (will know this if they ignore the civies and target our orbitals)

How does speed factor into target selection? For example, a 7 speed fighter can move 3.5 hexes while a BC can only move 2. Would our flight path of 3.5 which puts us directly infront of the BC cause its (suspected) HMG weapons to fight on the fighters rather than the civies since they would be the closest enemy with in 1 range at that distance?

Or, because the bots act as individuals, maybe the different classes/loadouts of ships have completely different programming, so the double main cannon frigate will seek out orbitals exclusively, while ignoring all fighters. But the drop ship frigate over Elim might instead focus on surviving and not engaging so that it can continue to support the ground attack.

TLDR; who the bots shoot will give us info for future plans 🤣

[pliant fjord]

When you decipher those answers, please share!

-# I have a sneaky suspiscion that the answer is: "They do what shack feels like they should do, and don't necessarily follow any particular predictable program"

[plain dew]

I have a strong feeling this is exactly the case, howeverberry, i cannot help myself for creating theories and testing them when possible 🤣

[pliant fjord]

I REALLY hope being down a fighter doesn't screw this whole thing up

[plain dew]

We should be fine (math wise)

[solid hare]

True, I mean that's how it works on tabletop right? Now if it was digitized into a game then it would likely behave differently

[plain dew]

the thing that flips the math, is if HMGs count multiple enemies in one square as a "swarm" but since we cant swarm, since we dont have the keyword, i think we are okay.

[shadow sigil]

We know they're going to split targetting (not counting orbitals) when they're in range.

[pliant fjord]

Yea, the worst thing that could happen is if we get crit by one of those MBCs and it immobilizes us.

then we're delayed to Elim, AND sitting ducks

[shadow sigil]

Can orbitals get tracked?

[pliant fjord]

any roll of a 4 on a damage die to an orbital deals a crit, which starts a "fire"

The crit disables a randomly selected system, which could be the engines.

[plain dew]

okay but if the immobilize a ship.... then that means we stay in this zone for 2 turns... which means boarding

https://tenor.com/view/hey-hru-eyebrow-raise-cute-how-are-you-gif-17754502

[pliant fjord]

Yeah, yeah. I know we're all itching to board, but as long as TF1 is nearby, boarding is a death sentence.

They're not gonna stop and wait before their trigger-happy gunners blow up every bot ship in the sector.

[shadow sigil]

Oh, I missed that last part

[solid hare]

https://tenor.com/view/who-call-me-gif-21550747

[plain dew]

depending on the movement of the BC, it might be just out of range of the MBC. They only have a range of 2 right?

[pliant fjord]

D4 = 4 on a dice

[plain dew]

yea, so i guess there could be a very weird scenario that one of the bot ships is just out of range of some of TF1. But i guess they could just stick the fighters and bombers on it, and that would probably be enough to deal with it.

[pliant fjord]

@shadow sigil

[shadow sigil]

Thanks, I keep forgetting that last part

[turbid kernel]

i'm tweaking for the next bit of midrounds man. I'm excited!

[pliant fjord]

TF1's got a plan. Fighter/Bomber Alpha strike on the Frigate, and full broadside on the BC. Might not take them out, but will certainly cripple them both.

[turbid kernel]

As long as they don't follow us then it's a win in my book lol

[noble owl]

Just checked midrounds. Good luck guys😂

[jolly verge]

good night Epsilon, good morning Omega

[halcyon ridge]

Give em hell fighters!

[turbid kernel]

Honor to Soteria Squadron! The first in Atlas to meet the enemy!

[pliant fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/neutral-if-i-dont-survive-tell-my-wife-hello-gif-13790639

[maiden belfry]

Glory to the first man to die! or hopefully live and look kewl

[strange wigeon]

RIP 🦀 never forget his sacrafice

[gleaming jacinth]

https://tenor.com/view/battlestar-galactica-adama-maneuver-adama-maneuver-battlestar-galactica-adama-maneuver-gif-16236731001174701666

[abstract thunder]

https://tenor.com/view/halo-delta-halo-installation-halo-ring-deploy-gif-26482646

[pliant fjord]

Soon, friends. Very soon!

[abstract thunder]

https://tenor.com/view/star-wars-more-gif-21856591

[pliant fjord]

https://tenor.com/view/fallout4-power-armor-walking-stuck-fallout-gif-18229224

[turbid kernel]

https://tenor.com/view/star-trek-the-undiscovered-country-general-chang-cry-havoc-and-let-slip-the-dogs-of-war-gif-13179818320828021602

[ember python]

https://tenor.com/view/fallout-on-prime-fallout-prime-video-bethesda-special-delivery-gif-343710790377119070

[ember python]

does the double MBC frigate have a code name yet?

[pliant fjord]

Bruiser, I think?

-# but where did I see that?

Brawler, I was close

[ember python]

I actually like yours better, but, yeah, Brawler works. Good to know.

[pliant fjord]

Bruiser makes more sense to me too. If it were a good brawler, it'd have a turreted MBC so it could brawl

Honestly, half the company calling it one thing and the other half calling it something else is hilarious to me

And also bad... my job is literally to facilitate communication.

[ember python]

Atlas just continually refers to it as Brusier, other BGs are like "you mean Brawler, copy?" We're just like, "No. That's Bruiser."

we shouldn't do that, but, it would be funny.

[pliant fjord]

"No. It's a Bruiser. It put two holes in us, then exploded. If it were a Brawler, it'd be staying at range, and throwing jabs."

[turbid kernel]

Alright folks, I'm going to bed. Stay safe and keep your heads down.

[ember python]

"You wanna convince Ix to call it Brawler you can get in the ring and go a couple rounds with the power armored dragon guy. Good luck. I'm callin' it Bruiser."

[pliant fjord]

XD
Vulture is also weird for a drop ship, raining flaming orbs from the sky. We should call it a Dragon

Or a Trebuchet

[ember python]

This is why I'm in Atlas, right here.

[pliant fjord]

Love me some good improv RP

Just ask @warm elbow , they're the funniest robot I've ever met.
-# sorry for the ping, it wasn't important I swear

[wide quiver]

Looks like we're through the gate. Anyone in this TF wanna do an interview with my WJ? I'm looking to get this part of the story in.

[pliant fjord]

Epsilon shift should be waking up soon-ish

[pliant fjord]

Y'know what makes something canon?

Some Enemy ship classifications

[plain dew]

Reaper will if you dont find anyone else! But need to wait till the round resolves to see if im still alive 😬 also might not be the best to interview, but it should be fun!

[plain dew]

Also how are you using off server emotes 😭 im so jealous.

[wide quiver]

They got dat dinero ya know. 🫰 💸

[plain dew]

is it linked to being a patreon then?

[pliant fjord]

discord nitro I think

[novel oak]

patreon

its disabled for nitro

or well

for everyone

like I cant use my :catsip:

so I assume its patreon perks

[plain dew]

I also have cat emojis that need to be released upon the world.

Ill look into it this weekend.

[strange wigeon]

Daaamn thats a patreon perk. 10/10 perk Its okay, I do this and nitro instead of netflix or whatever it is these days

[novel oak]

alright I just looked at the midround events

hopefully you sticking around will entice them into more info

[strange wigeon]

Good luck you two! we need all the info we can get

[pliant fjord]

Honestly, this community is often more entertaining than netflix so, fair

[strange wigeon]

I get many many hours of fun out of it (especially when we have the main campaigns). I'm not tac-com primary this time snce I'm going on vacation soon, so that feels kinda weird... ngl

[jagged pagoda]

Morning epsilon

[royal sequoia]

Morning Atlas 🙂

[wide quiver]

I suppose it is now morning for me.

https://tenor.com/view/sunrise-gif-2701025511138684010

[ember python]

its soon to be morning here, which means bed for me, as i'm on night shift.

[royal sequoia]

Nighty night then 🙂

[ember python]

hopefully i'll wake to some good news, like bruiser missing w/ both MBCs, or Nav-1 being empty

[royal sequoia]

Same hopes.

[humble urchin]

Same hopes, exept I'm already awake.

[jagged mulch]

Morning Simm, and morning Atlas

[ember python]

imagine shack lurking, seeing our hopes, and thinking about the big, steamy, soupy, pile of shit he's got prepped for us to drag ourselves through. we are gonna be working for that 5 req.

[jolly verge]

Group Fairlie can send their Jr Engineer, his only use now is to watch and learn (and do something wrong help the main Engineers)

[high pike]

You know, all the names I've suggested have included "?" 😅.

But actually, you bring up a good point regarding calling the bot heavy-Frigate "Brawler". A lot of people have a preconceived notion that a brawler-type ship is meant to stay in close and sustained combat.
"Mauler" is probably better. If it gets ahold of you it can maul you pretty bad.

I'd say "Dragon" is arguably too grandiose of a name for a frigate-sized hull. And too "artillery" sounding. Plus "Vulture" gives the impression of hovering over its prey and not engaging in direct combat but letting others (Drop Troops) do the work.

Mostly just trying to use names which aren't callsigns and sound evil

and aren't already common vernacular with heavy meaning tied to them

[high pike]

Apparently everyone took to "Tormentor". Ya win some, ya lose some

Saving "Annihilator" for a bot cannon-battleship 😅

[jagged pagoda]

Sounds about right

[pliant fjord]

Hmm. Maybe Panther, then? They're vicious maulers. Plus there's the ww2 tank reference to something heavily armed and armored.

[high pike]

Avoiding callsigns:

[pliant fjord]

Brawler/Vulture it is then.

[pliant fjord]

One Enemy Ship Roster, all fun removed, sir!

[high pike]

Wait... Did Shack invert the frigate silhouette for the Brawler?

Or is that a custom silhouette?

[pliant fjord]

Oh, that's clever. I assumed it was custom like the BG

It looks like he cut just the engine off, and put it on the other side

[high pike]

Unless he intended for the right side of the base frigate silhouette to be the front... 🤔

[pliant fjord]

There's definitely some cutting going on, so not sure.

[high pike]

Oh yeah, at the back of the Brawler. I see it

[pliant fjord]

-# bruiser... grumble grumble

[topaz rivet]

Do you think if we post about waiting for midrounds Shack delays them an extra five minutes?

[pliant fjord]

Na, only when he gets tagged.

[topaz rivet]

Fair

[pliant fjord]

-# oops

@ noble Also, I got you down for the Boarding Mission at Elim, so we've got 2x PAI, 1x INF, and an Engi on the first wave. If that's not enough, we'll bring over a medic and the rest of the INF.

[topaz rivet]

Shiny

[solid hare]

So the rest of us pushinf on to planetside?

[pliant fjord]

Suppose so. We can drop some Iron Hammer Mechs instead of us if we board.

I'll put up another poll about what we're doing next

https://tenor.com/view/starwars-gif-8208568

[turbid kernel]

Chances these are boarding pods?

[pliant fjord]

Or LRMs

I think I'd prefer boarding pods

[topaz rivet]

Likely not LRMs since missiles are presumably too fast to appear on the map. I’m worried they’re ship eating things

[pliant fjord]

Could be a stealth ship

that would be terrifying

https://tenor.com/view/klingon-star-trek-wos-bird-of-pray-transform-gif-17442688

[jagged mulch]

Tbh, that was my initial thought

[topaz rivet]

We can always scan by fire if it is

[plain dew]

Don't torpedos have a move speed? The bomber upgrade

[royal sequoia]

boarding pods would be amazing for you guys :p

LRMs did have a move speed on Lussan

[plain dew]

Or am I making that up

[pliant fjord]

Yea, they're gonna find out the hard way that we're the ground pounders

[royal sequoia]

and they could be intercepted, so seen on the map

[pliant fjord]

torpedos do yes

LRMs do not

[topaz rivet]

Yes but they’re different from missiles

[turbid kernel]

Yeah we got some marines who were disappointed that there wasn't gonna be a boarding but if they want to board us... Who are we to deny them their fun?

[topaz rivet]

My marines are perfectly happy to keep napping

[plain dew]

https://tenor.com/view/wow-woah-andy-dwyer-chris-pratt-gif-14973712

Our ground troops when the bots do the boarding for us:

[royal sequoia]

Queue the whole of Atlas turning off their guns and rushing the boarding pods

[topaz rivet]

I hope we never find out what the mysterious signal is because we blow it up

[royal sequoia]

ho I see, LRMs just have three range now

but they can be intercepted by point defense, that's all I want 😄

[pliant fjord]

Look like viruses to me.

[tiny rover]

Whatever they are they are heading right for you atlas

[plain dew]

Oh no... Is this a swarm type flyer

[solid hare]

Stealth ships?!

https://tenor.com/view/mine-finding-nemo-mine-mine-mine-thats-mine-lulugifs-gif-20827668

[tiny rover]

That's what I'm thinking 💀

[plain dew]

Omg! I did something and haven't died so far! Yay!

[pliant fjord]

The HMGs should do very well in this case.

Ooo, good job, brain!

[vestal ice]

We can just fire a heavy drop pod at their ship right 🤣🤣🫡

[royal sequoia]

erhm

that would be very fun

survival not guaranteed x)

[pliant fjord]

Now, now, there's only one boarding pod, so form an orderly line... behind me
(immediately starts sprinting)

[vestal ice]

gives you a head start

starts mech engine

[pliant fjord]

lmao

Also, genuinely hope they're not boarders, Warren is completely undefended

no marines, no armory

[granite otter]

They have armory

[royal sequoia]

they have an armory actually

so it's not thaaaat bad

[pliant fjord]

oh, there it is

[royal sequoia]

(coping)

[vestal ice]

Guess could always board them as well

[pliant fjord]

Is it friendly fire if it's a boarding pod with reinforcements?

[plain dew]

I have a solution

[topaz rivet]

I’m down to counter board Warren if we have to

[pliant fjord]

Yea, that's a good idea

[plain dew]

Oh, I was too late

[vestal ice]

So plan to counter board?

[plain dew]

Someone said it. We use the breach pods to counter breach Warren 😂😂

[royal sequoia]

just friendly docking thank you very much

[topaz rivet]

Pioneer can just dock with Warren

[pliant fjord]

IF those triangles are actually boarding, and not just munching

[vestal ice]

If I must. I guess a mech with a laser would be not at all dangerous in combat on a ship

[topaz rivet]

Hopefully they’ll be dying in a hail of bullets

[pliant fjord]

You called it!

[round dawn]

@fast cobalt Hi Yoger so i'm writing an rp post to pass the time so if one of my guys spotted pvt Dave in a drop pod bay while walking by and said this to him
''Hey Dave! long time no see, how you doing? Storm still being a hardass about that SRM training?'' what would his response be?

[topaz rivet]

Hey, who’s on the banksia’s gun? Nice shooting

[pliant fjord]

@still rock Nice shooting

[plain dew]

Hmmm is it suspicious that Infantry come in groups of 6, and the bot boarders also have 6

Could be will be seeing alot more of these things on the ground

[topaz rivet]

We have a lot more machine guns on the ground

[plain dew]

Looks like the little swarm bots were the other unidentified signatures in 4417

Quick lil buggers getting over to TF Fluffle

[topaz rivet]

Also quick to get into range of our tiny guns

[halcyon ridge]

Canonically, in-game Shack has been screening requests for a giant fly swatter module for orbitals since the Sentinel got chewed on by bugs over Haven. If this is another swarm with a taste for ship hulls, the entire Endurance is going to notice slower processing speed due to the sheer volume of request forms being sent

Electrified hull plating at least felt like a compromise that deserved to be opened

[topaz rivet]

I wonder how many req recreating a lancer-class would cost?

[pliant fjord]

Ooo, like in Barotrauma. Great game.

[fast cobalt]

" Pvt, Dave looks up from his SRM training tube after checking his kill ratio. " oh hey, yaaaa. but if i miss that means people die, and i don't want to lose anyone. i know that we are drop tropoers death isn't if but when. it's just .. after haven. seeing everyone in the 32nd chewed on by the bugs, even Lt. Atlas got his arm chewed after saving my ass from a bug i don't want to be the reason we lose some one because i missed a shot " a six legged Lussan lizard lays on a table under a makeshift sun lamp belly plump like it just ate -

~~dave might have a bit of trauma from seeing all his friends turned into chew toys ~~

[round dawn]

Thank you!

and that's perfectly reasonable lol

[merry summit]

so this is fine

[fast cobalt]

any time. RP things are fun to do

[light crescent]

So we counter board?

[pliant fjord]

Sorry folks. Breaching pods are a no-go. According to Fluffle TCO, they'll be out of range for too long.

Although we could shuttle with VTOLs

[turbid kernel]

Yeah, but there's still other buzz droids that our in our flight path and with Fluffle gone I believe we'll be their next target

[halcyon ridge]

Probably want crew to prep to rearm/repair fighters. I get the feeling the BC hasn’t launched everything yet

[solid hare]

Well this is gonna be fun

[pliant fjord]

I think all of them went to the Warren. Banksia took out a whole squad

[ember python]

Yeah, dropping 8 of them was huge.

[pliant fjord]

18 total -8 = 10 left

[ember python]

Still a dangerous amount of boarders, but its a lot nore managable than 3 whole squads worth

[solid hare]

Very true, very true, hopefully warren csn repell them

[topaz rivet]

If not, we can clean them out easily enough

[ember python]

But the main thing, nav-1 was empty

[pliant fjord]

Yea, that's huge. That should mean we can get to Elim Orbit next turn

And the frigate's still there, so THAT'S our boarding plan.

[ember python]

I was so concerned nav-1 would have something there. But that, at least, didnt come to pass.

[solid hare]

Very true

[ember python]

They're talking about shuffling some guys to Warren to help repel, and luckily they've got the Armory module.

Oh wait, well, we'll see in the next midround how things shake out.

[jagged pagoda]

Oh boy, just caught up ith midround events, damn.

Good on you lads for getting so many of them, though a shame we didn't get all of them

Also well done to the wingies for kicking toaster teeth

[turbid kernel]

Is Fluffle stopping at Nav-1 to take care of their boarders?